By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-988310.mp3
New Paltz, NY – Wet weather soaking the Hudson Valley has given local highway repair crews and utilities all they can handle in trying to keep up with more flood-related damage ... Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports
Water-soaked Hudson Valley residents are tired of hearing the rhythm of the falling rain after the latest round of flooding, power outages and road closures. Thursday's rain topped up waterways that are already running high... some of that spilling over onto highways like State Route 213 in Eddyville and Mountain Road in the town of Ulster. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden is among those keeping an eye on road conditions. He says so many roads are now gravel, it is difficult to maintain them.
The NYS Dept of transportation office in Poughkeepsie says that in the 7-county area from Columbia down to Westchester 99% of the roads have now been reopened. A combination of saturated soil and high winds resulted in a number of trees falling across electric transmission lines: the wires came down, knocking thousands of Central Hudson customers offline. Central Hudson Gas & Electric spokesman John Maserjian says the nearly non-stop rains have caused many trees to fall.
Weather forecasters warn that more rain is expected this evening and a heavier rain moves in for Saturday and most of Sunday. Officials in many municipalities are keeping a close watch on rivers and streams, as flooding will continue to be a concern.