With the level of Lake Ontario expected to keep rising, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is declaring a State of Emergency for lakeside communities. Cuomo made the announcement at the Newfane Marina in Olcott Monday.
The way the water level is rising, Cuomo says communities along hundreds of miles of Lake Ontario shoreline could see flooding return like it was in 2017.
"Depending on the forecasts we're looking at the potential flood levels as soon as this week, later in the week," Cuomo said.
The governor said the time to prepare is now.
"If you are a homeowner or a business that was damaged in 2017 prepare for a redux of the same situation. The flooding will come where the flooding came. Let's do everything we can to get ahead of it and be prepared for it", Cuomo said.
Cuomo says so far more than one million sandbags, hundreds of pumps, and over 5,000 feet of aquadam have been deployed to affected communities. He says 200 National Guard members are also on standby for immediate deployment.
The only bright spot, he said, is that former state Assembly member Jane Corwin of Clarence is now a member of the International Joint Commission, which controls lake levels.
"We need someone to fight for us and having a New Yorker on the IJC, I think, is going to help," Cuomo said.
Homeowners and businesses affected by flooding, Cuomo said, should contact their local government which will coordinate assistance with the state.
