This morning.
More than
25 million Americans
across
the Northeast
are under
flood alerts
after deadly and devastating flash
flooding swept through New York
just north of New York City.
Parts of the Hudson
Valley saw a once in a millennium
levels of rain.
This was the scene in Highland
Falls, New York,
where a woman was reportedly swept away
by raging floodwaters and drowned
while trying to evacuate from her home
with her dog.
Rescue teams using a boat to save
this man who was stranded at his house.
You can see the piles, tree
and trees and debris
pushed up
against the homes of a storm drop.
Nearly eight inches of rain at the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point.
Flooding so bad
that people
had to swim out of their cars
after becoming stuck.
And now the storm system is pushing north
and bearing down on New England.
Paula Sandoval is live
in Rockland County, New York.
And Polo,
what's the situation there right now
after a devastating night of rain
Well, Phil, good morning to you.
You'll find New York City authorities
really scattered
throughout the region
right now as they respond
to this sort of post devastation mode.
In fact,
this as far as we can take you
we have seen drivers
detoured here just off the Palisades
Interstate Parkway all morning.
If you driven it,
you know, it's a very busy corridor,
especially on a Monday morning.
You mentioned just a little while ago
one of the hardest hit areas
just north of here
where floodwaters proved
deadly last night.
Oh, look at the people's doors.
Oh, my gosh.
Historic flooding slamming
southeastern New York on Sunday.
It is up to my knees.
I know.
Orange County officials
say at least one woman died
after she was swept away in floodwaters
in the town of Highlands.
We have a emergency situation here
in southern Orange County,
in particular the Highland Falls area.
A state of emergency
was declared in Ontario,
in Orange County,
Sunday by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
In Orange County, Hochul
and the Orange County
executive said it was due
to, quote, life
threatening flooding and power outages
to more than 12,000 homes
throughout the county.
We have flooding situations
and emergency calls.
If you do not need to be on the road,
stay off the road
at West Point.
Intense rain recorded there
total, more than seven
and a half inches in 6 hours,
according to preliminary data from NOAA.
I'll see an analysis of NOAA's
historical rainfall
frequency data indicates
this would be a
one in a 1000 year rainfall event.
Also in Orange County,
the city of Cornwall issued a
no travel advisory
due to numerous flooded
roadways, stranded vehicles, water
rescues, mudslides, downed trees
and debris.
In Rockland
County, flooding, stranded vehicles,
Police say they've been assisting
local fire
departments in the EMS,
helping to get stranded motorists
to safety.
New York State
Police urging people
to avoid the Palisades
Interstate Parkway due
to heavy flooding and washouts.
And it's not just New York
State feeling the brunt of it.
On Sunday,
Vermont Governor Phil Scott
declared a state of emergency Friday.
Heavy rain washed out a portion
of Route four in Killington
and back here,
the Hudson Valley,
a slight break in the clouds,
which will undoubtedly provide
at least some relief
for folks here in the region.
But the threat far from overfilled
with still about 25 million Americans
under some sort of flood threat.
Flood related alert
or at least a flood related threat.
Still a moderate risk for excessive
rain in the Northeast.
Through Tuesday Phil.
All right.
Pull a sign of all live for us
in Rockland County.
Keep us posted. Thank you.
And CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam joins
us now.
So, Derek,
how much more rain are we expecting?
You just look at those poor folks
and all that they're going through yet
another six inches as possible.
So that could top
some of our totals over a foot.
And we've seen the success of water
already turning some roadways
into literal rivers.
And there's a reason the National Weather
Service has a slogan,
turn around, don't drown,
because six inches can actually stall
a vehicle.
12 inches of water
can float a lot of vehicles.
But 24 inches of rushing water
can actually sweep away a full SUV
Just take a look
at some of these images
coming out of Ontario County,
for instance.
This is upstate New York.
I mean, there is a perfect reason
why we talk about turn around
don't drown,
because that car has been completely
stalled out by the water.
Now, West Point, talking about that
near one in 1000 year events
still needs to be confirmed,
but that's nearly eight inches of rain
in less than 24 hours.
There's other locations
with equally as impressive
rainfall totals.
We're focusing in on northern Vermont
and upstate New York.
That's where we have our flood
warnings in place.
There's a radar really lighting up
like a Christmas tree
this morning, Pamela.
Phil, tell me about it.
Derek Van Dam, thanks so much.