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HAWTHORNE, N.Y. Hurricane Irene has slammed Westchester County, causing flooding and closures on several county highways.
Kieran O'Leary, spokesperson for Westchester County Police, said in an email that The Bronx River and Hutchinson River Parkways are closed. Parts of the Saw Mill River Parkway are closed from the Cross County Parkway to Grant Street in Pleasantville.
A small part of the Taconic State Parkway is closed from the Kensico Dam to Hawthorne Circle.
"Other sections of the parkways could be closed due to localized flooding or fallen trees," O'Leary said via email. "Flash flooding could occur at any time. Motorists should stay off roads unless absolutely necessary."
Mike Sullivan, spokesperson for the New York State Thruway Authority, said that the Thruway is closed northbound from exit 8 (I-287) to exit 16 (Harriman) and southbound from exit 17 (I-84) to exit 12 (West Nyack).
The Tappan Zee Bridge is closed northbound but is technically open southbound. But Sullivan said the southbound Thruway closures have essentially shut down the Tappan Zee Bridge.
"Effectively, it's closed," Sullivan said. "But I suppose if somebody's out there they could technically get to the lanes and get across."
Sullivan said that three feet of water has accumulated across most of the lanes.
"We're closed for the foreseeable future," Sullivan said.
Marjorie Anders, spokesperson for the MTA, said that the Metro-North stations in Valhalla, Ossining and Croton-on-Hudson are underwater. Anders said the MTA has initial reports from the field but does not yet have system-wide assessments and cannot yet determine how long it will take for trains to begin operation again.
Anders said the hurricane damaged some electrical systems. Wires fell at the New Haven and New Canaan stations in Connecticut and fallen trees have prevented some people from reaching shops.
"It's going to be a big effort," Anders said. "It's very much a major episode here."
Westchester County executive Robert Astorino told News 12 Westchester that the Bee-Line Bus system and the Westchester County Airport will be closed until tomorrow.
Multiple calls to the New York State Department of Transportation were not returned as of 11:30 a.m.
Check back here for more updates and check our Hurricane Irene page for continuing coverage of the storm.
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