WARNING: Potential Flooding, Ice Jams for 02/17/22 & 02/18/22

PRESS RELEASE: WARREN COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES WARNS OF POTENTIAL ICE JAMS, FLOODING

WARREN COUNTY, NY — Warren County Office of Emergency Services is advising county residents of the potential for flooding Thursday (02/17/22) and Friday (02/18/22) as rain and warm temperatures raise ice jam risks on local streams and rivers

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Warren County and adjacent counties from 1 p.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday. More than inch of a rain is possible, which coupled with melting snow and frozen ground that will increase runoff, could cause flooding and ice jams

Warren County Office of Emergency Services staff have been working with Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District and Warren County Sheriffs Office personnel to monitor the ice pack on ice jamprone waters in Warren County, such as the Hudson and Schroon rivers

Warren County Office of Emergency Services Director Ann Marie Mason said those living along streams and rivers should be particularly cognizant of the flooding potential

Ice jams can cause rapid flooding in areas that haven’t previously been floodprone as large volumes of water back up,Mason explained

Residents living in floodprone areas should monitor weather alerts and follow Ready.gov floodingguidance and be prepared to evacuate quickly

Those who encounter flooded roads should not drive through flooded areas. Research has found that more than half of all floodrelated drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water, as just 12 inches of flowing water can wash away a vehicle. The next highest percentage of floodrelated deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters

 

—Don Lehman, Director of Public Affairs for Warren County