Flood-damaged roads continue to cause problems for drivers in Rockland, Westchester counties
STONY POINT, N.Y. -- People have been cleaning up in parts of Rockland and Westchester counties following devastating flooding from Sunday's storm.
Raging waters washed away roads and destroyed homes, leading to more rescues.
A devastating amount of water fell across parts of the Hudson Valley. The situation became so dire the National Weather Service issued multiple flash flood emergencies, marking only the second time it has done so. The first time happened during the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
READ MORE: Storms, flash flooding impact travel across Tri-State Area
The reality of roughly eight inches of rain washed down Lowland Hill Road and climbed to a point where rescue by boats became necessary in the Rockland town of Stony Point. One man was evacuated from his home as the floodwaters rose.
Piermont Assistant Fire Chief Daniel Goswick said he went first through the water to get to the man.
"We were afraid of the amount of water that was coming down. It's an old foundation so we didn't know what he structural integrity of the foundation and the house, itself, were going to be," Goswick said. "When I got to the porch, it was pushing me so hard I didn't want to get in front of the house and get trapped underneath the porch."
He talked Richard Beyers into getting on the boat.
"I went in the house to close my windows because I didn't wan the water to come through the open windows. Of course, I got trapped," Beyers said.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day said county-wide emergency services also helped 16 hikers.
"Rescuing a number of hikers who were stuck in the mountains at the exact wrong time, rescuing 40 people who thought it was okay to drive through a flood," Day said.
Water also flowed into Chabad of Stony Point and covered cars above their bumpers.
That scene repeated itself over and over across the lower Hudson Valley on Sunday as the water rose even higher at the Route 6 circle. Volunteer first responders rescued 40 people from their vehicles.
"It's really bad out there," Yorktown Supervisor Tom Diana said.
Northern Westchester was not spared, Diana said. Main roads were once again passable on Monday, but not side roads. Driving around, the Mobile Weather Lab spotted numerous road closed signs. Multiple culverts and bridges were comprised as in one case the force of the water pushed asphalt into a pile. Crews moved it off one failing bridge.
READ MORE: At least 1 dead, state of emergency declared in Orange County due to flooding
When asked how long it will take to recover from Sunday's rainfall, Diana said, "Oh my goodness. It's going to be at least, I'm going to say 24-48 hours before everything is at least passable."
Diana issued a state of emergency and hopes for help.
"We are reaching out to Gov. Hochul to hopefully include at least the northern part of Westchester County in her state of emergency," Diana said.
The recovery stretches to the personal level in Yorktown, too.
"We thought we were okay and my husband woke up at 2 o'clock to the dog barking and she was basically in water downstairs," resident Kimberly Shulman said.
The brook across the street from Shulman's home busted out of its banks. On Monday, flood waters refuse to recede and her backyard mimicked a wading pool.
Inside, floors were destroyed, containers were dumped on their side by rising water, and family heirlooms sat drenched in ruin.
"I'm sick. I am looking at stuff that was my grandparents' stuff that was ruined and destroyed," Shulman said.
Rockland County is included in the governor's state of emergency, but Westchester County, as of 5 p.m., had not been.
