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Department of Environmental Conservation

Police & Fire
Homeowner Shoots Black Bear Who Entered Residence In Hudson Valley Homeowner Shoots Black Bear Who Entered Residence In Hudson Valley
Homeowner Shoots Black Bear Who Entered Residence In Hudson Valley A black bear is still on the loose after breaking into a Hudson Valley home and being shot by the homeowner. The incident occurred in Orange County on Thursday, March 28 in Greenwood Lake. According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), a department police officer responded to the residence after a homeowner called 911 to report a black bear broke into an enclosed front porch.  The homeowner reported shooting the black bear once with a handgun and the bear ran off into the woods, DEC officials said. Attempts to locate the bear were unsuccessful. DEC’s investiga…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Lost Hikers Rescued By Forest Rangers In Hudson Valley Lost Hikers Rescued By Forest Rangers In Hudson Valley
Lost Hikers Rescued By Forest Rangers In Hudson Valley Two lost hikers in the region were guided to safety by forest rangers as darkness set in the region. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11 in Ulster County in the Slide Mountain Wilderness Area in the town of Shandaken. According to officials with the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the two hikers, ages 28, and 31, lost the trail and called 911 as darkness began to fall. Forest Ranger Horn called one hiker’s cell phone and helped guide the pair a short distance back to the trail. The hikers shared tracking information with Ranger Horn to en…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists
Increased Crash Risk: Watch For Deer During Mating Season, State Warns Motorists With the arrival of fall, there is an increased risk of crashes involving deer, both the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are warning motorists. Deer are most active and more likely to enter public roadways this time of year as they search for mates during their breeding season, which is the months of October, November, and December. According to the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, in 2022, 41.5 percent of the crashes between deer and vehicles occurred during this three-month…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Taxidermist Admits Improperly Disposing Of Animals, Other Violations At Business In Region Taxidermist Admits Improperly Disposing Of Animals, Other Violations At Business In Region
Taxidermist Admits Improperly Disposing Of Animals, Other Violations At Business In Region A taxidermist in the region has admitted to improperly disposing of animal parts and other violations. The Schenectady County business owner, who operates a taxidermy company in Glenville on Scotch Bush Road, pleaded guilty and paid a fine for Environmental Conservation Law violations on Monday, Oct. 3. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), officers executed a search warrant at the business in April 2023. Inside, they reportedly found animal parts that were improperly disposed of and susceptible to Chronic Wasting Disease, which affects deer, elk, reindeer, and m…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Hikers Ticketed For Leaving Chairs At Summit Of Hudson Valley Mountain Hikers Ticketed For Leaving Chairs At Summit Of Hudson Valley Mountain
Hikers Ticketed For Leaving Chairs At Summit Of Hudson Valley Mountain A group of hikers was ticketed for allegedly taking three Adirondack chairs to the summit of Slide Mountain and then refusing to bring them down. The incident took place in Ulster County on Saturday, July 8 after the Catskill 3500 Club notified Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Ranger Martin about a group of hikers carrying three Adirondack chairs toward the summit of Slide Mountain in the town of Shandaken, said DEC officials. The hikers from New Jersey indicated they intended to leave the chairs at the summit for public use. Slide Mountain is located in the Slide Mountain Wi…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Dutchess County Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Bear Dutchess County Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Bear
Dutchess County Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Bear A Hudson Valley homeowner has been accused of allegedly killing a black bear without provocation.  The incident took place in Dutchess County on Saturday, April 22 in the town of Dover.  According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call for shots fired and witnessed an individual dragging the bear back to his residence when they arrived at the location. The sheriff's office contacted State Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Kevin Wamsley who responded to the scene and interviewed the homeowner wh…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Coops! Driver Ticketed After Mini Cooper Gets Stuck On Hiking Trail In Region Coops! Driver Ticketed After Mini Cooper Gets Stuck On Hiking Trail In Region
Coops! Driver Ticketed After Mini Cooper Gets Stuck On Hiking Trail In Region A man is facing several tickets after driving his car onto a popular hiking trail in the region and then getting stuck, authorities said. Forest rangers in Albany County were called Tuesday, Feb. 21 with reports of an abandoned vehicle in the woods approximately a half mile from the Albany Pine Bush Madison Avenue Pinelands trailhead, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). An investigation by rangers and Albany Police determined that a 42-year-old Troy man had driven a Mini Cooper through a split rail fence at the trailhead. He then proceeded to drive down the hik…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of NY Road Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of NY Road
Slithery Surprise: 14-Foot Python Found On Side Of NY Road Wildlife officers in New York got a slithery surprise on Valentine’s Day when a massive reticulated python was found on the side of a Long Island road. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers were called Tuesday, Feb. 14, with reports that a large snake had been found on the side of the road in the town of Medford, according to the agency. When officers arrived, they found the python curled up in a ball. They quickly determined that the reptile, which measured 14 feet long, was dead. Officers removed the snake from the roadway to “appropriately dispose of it,” the agency s…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Mountain Rescue: Rangers Carry Injured Hiker Mile To Safety In Catskills Mountain Rescue: Rangers Carry Injured Hiker Mile To Safety In Catskills
Mountain Rescue: Rangers Carry Injured Hiker Mile To Safety In Catskills Forest rangers carried an injured hiker a mile to safety after the hiker suffered an ankle injury in the Catskill Mountains. The hours-long rescue operation began at around 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 in Greene County, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).  Crews were told that a hiker had been injured on the west side of Sugarloaf Mountain, near the town of Hunter. After reaching the 65-year-old hiker, who is from Connecticut, a ranger determined that additional crews would be needed to carry the hiker the one mile down the mountain in icy condition…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries: Tractor-Trailer Hits Overpass On Hudson Valley Parkway Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries: Tractor-Trailer Hits Overpass On Hudson Valley Parkway
Fuel Spill With Side Of Fries: Tractor-Trailer Hits Overpass On Hudson Valley Parkway This story has been updated. A truck carrying 42,000 pounds of frozen french fries struck an overpass on a Westchester County parkway, causing a fuel spill and a closure of the roadway's lanes in one direction.   The incident happened on Wednesday morning, Feb. 1 around 6:50 a.m., when a tractor-trailer traveling south on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale hit the Mamaroneck Road bridge, Westchester County Police Public Information Officer Kieran O'Leary said.  As a result of the crash, 75 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from the trailer's refrigeration unit onto the parkway and int…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Deerly Departed: NY Hunter's Buck Confiscated After Facebook Post Deerly Departed: NY Hunter's Buck Confiscated After Facebook Post
Deerly Departed: NY Hunter's Buck Confiscated After Facebook Post A New York hunter learned the hard way that if you’re going to break the rules, it’s probably best not to announce it on social media. Department of Environmental Conservation officers in Greene County were tipped off on Wednesday, Dec. 7, about a Facebook post showing a man with a deer that had been taken illegally, the department said. Officers learned that the man had moved from the Capital Region to the town of Hope in Hamilton County. Investigators there were able to track down the man’s location, where they spotted the prized buck hanging on a property. While interviewing the man, h…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Deer Near Home In Area Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Deer Near Home In Area
Man Accused Of Illegally Killing Deer Near Home In Area A Hudson Valley man has been issued multiple tickets by state conservation officials for allegedly killing a deer out of season. The incident took place in Ulster County on Friday, Oct. 28 at a home in the town of Rochester. The state Department of Environmental Conservation officials responded to a home in Rochester after receiving reports of multiple deer being killed with the aid of bait, according to the DEC. The person responsible, who was not identified, admitted to shooting the deer behind his property and claimed the large trough of corn and horse feed in his backyard was intended …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Dutchess Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Dutchess
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Dutchess The invasive spotted lanternfly continues its invasion of New York. A state effort to track the spread and prevalence of the insect using community reports and digital mapping shows it has now been spotted in all five boroughs of New York City, across Long Island, and throughout the Hudson Valley. Earlier Report: Capital District Among Regions In NY That Have Been 'Infested' By Invasive Insect, Schumer Says As of November 2022, the insect, also known as Chinese blistering cicada, has been confirmed in 16 New York counties, including Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Coyote Attacks 2 In Hudson Valley Coyote Attacks 2 In Hudson Valley
Coyote Attacks 2 In Hudson Valley A town in the region is warning residents to be on the lookout for a rabid coyote after two residents were attacked while walking. The incident took place in Northern Westchester on Thursday, Nov. 17 shortly after 5 p.m. in North Salem on Turkey Hill Road. One person was bitten with a puncture wound on their leg. The second person was not injured, North Salem Town Supervisor Warren Lucas said. "The person with the puncture wound is on their way to the hospital likely for rabies shots," Lucas said in a Facebook post. "The presumption is that the coyote is rabid. It attacked the tires of a c…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Mother Bear Illegally Shot, Killed In Area, DEC Says Mother Bear Illegally Shot, Killed In Area, DEC Says
Mother Bear Illegally Shot, Killed In Area, DEC Says A man from the region was ticketed after allegedly illegally shooting and killing a bear in the Hudson Valley. The incident took place in Ulster County in the town of Rochester in October, said the state Department of Environmental Conservation. According to a report from DEC, two department officers received reports that someone had illegally killed a bear. The complainant said a local hunter shot the female bear with a bow and then, with two accomplices, tracked the animal into the woods and killed it with a shotgun.  The hunter posted several pictures of himself and the two ac…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks 'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks
'Cold, Hungry, Thirsty': Lost Students Rescued Hours After Bus Leaves Them In Adirondacks Two college students in New York had to be rescued by state Forest Rangers after getting left behind in the woods of the Adirondacks while on a day retreat. Emergency crews in Warren County were called at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, with reports that two students were lost near Dippikill Pond, located about 10 miles northwest of the town of Warrensburg. A Forest Ranger contacted the students via phone and responded to the area, where he was able to make voice contact with them, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said.  He then made his way to them a short time …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Fuel Spill In Region Draws Large Response Fuel Spill In Region Draws Large Response
Fuel Spill In Region Draws Large Response Emergency crews responded after a fuel spill was discovered in a creek in the area. Greene County 911 was first alerted of trouble at around 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 20, with reports of a diesel spill in Catskill Creek in the village of Catskill, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Several of the department’s officers, along with a team of its Spill Responders and local police, were called to the scene. Crews deployed approximately 150 feet of boom floats and 75 feet of absorbent boom to contain the spill, according to officials. Investigators determined that t…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage
NY Bumps Starting Pay For Lifeguards Amid Staffing Shortage Lifeguards in New York are getting a pay raise. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new directive Wednesday, June 22, increasing the starting pay rates for lifeguards at state park beaches and pools, as well as campgrounds and day-use area beaches. Newly hired lifeguards at upstate facilities will see a 34-percent increase in pay from $14.95 per hour to $20 per hour. And starting pay at downstate facilities will go up 21 percent from $18.15 per hour to $22 per hour. Hochul said the idea is to better attract qualified candidates amid a staffing shortage at New York State Park and Department of E…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Police Warn Of Black Bear Spotted At Cemetery In Region Police Warn Of Black Bear Spotted At Cemetery In Region
Police Warn Of Black Bear Spotted At Cemetery In Region Authorities are warning people to be on the lookout after a black bear was spotted hanging around a cemetery in the Capital District. Several people spotted the bear in Albany, at Graceland Cemetery on Delaware Avenue, at around 2 p.m. Friday, May 27, Albany Police said. Those in the area should exercise caution and keep pets on a leash, police said. They advised anyone who sees the bear to not approach the animal and call 911. Black bears are rarely seen by most New Yorkers, but have increasingly been spotted in semi-rural environments, agricultural areas, and sometimes urban centers, ac…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Hudson Valley Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Hudson Valley
Watch: Black Bear Makes Its Way Up Driveway In Hudson Valley A Northern Westchester family received an unexpected visitor when a black bear took a tour of the neighborhood. In Armonk, a Chestnut Ridge Road resident captured video of the four-legged visitor who was taking in the sights while wandering in his backyard at approximately 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24. During the short video, the bear can be seen peacefully walking up the driveway, setting off a security light before making its way toward a nearby wooded area. Related story - Coyote, Bear Sightings Reported Within Days In This Northern Westchester Town The Department of Environment…

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by Zak Failla
News
Hiker From Hopewell Junction Killed In Fall In Region Hiker From Hopewell Junction Killed In Fall In Region
Hiker From Hopewell Junction Killed In Fall In Region A Hudson Valley woman has died after she reportedly fell while hiking in the Catskill Forest Preserve. Forest Rangers were first alerted of trouble at around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 22, with reports of a fallen hiker in Greene County, near Platte Clove Road in the Town of Hunter, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The woman, identified as a resident of Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County, was pronounced dead at the scene. Rangers conducted a technical rope to retrieve her body, DEC officials said. Her body was turned over to the Greene County Coroner, who wil…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley 12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley
12-Year-Old Attacked By Bear At Park In Hudson Valley A 12-year-old Boy Scout is on the mend after an encounter with a black bear left him with minor injuries, ABC7 reports. Henry Ayers told the outlet he was with his troop from Cooperstown camping at Harriman State Park, located in both Rockland and Orange counties, Sunday, May 1, when he awoke to a sharp pain in his leg. "I look up and it was a giant bear,” Ayers told ABC7. “I thought it was a nightmare. It was honestly crazy. I didn't think I was awake." The Scoutmaster, Diana Nicols, told the outlet the bear bit through the boy’s sleeping bag, leaving him with minor cuts and bruises. He…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Video: Transient Moose Relocated Out Of Region Video: Transient Moose Relocated Out Of Region
Video: Transient Moose Relocated Out Of Region A moose is on the loose no longer, at least not in the region. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said a young cow moose was successfully immobilized in the Capital District in downtown Schenectady over the weekend and released back into the wilds of the southern Adirondacks. View the video here. The transient moose had been spotted around town several times this month, including near Schenectady Community College on Friday, May 13, the DEC said. “Immobilizing a large animal (or any animal) is also a risky endeavor and is reserved for when it is truly a last resort and th…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Hudson Valley, Police Say Dog Attacked By Coyote In Hudson Valley, Police Say
Dog Attacked By Coyote In Hudson Valley, Police Say Residents in Westchester have been advised to be on alert after a coyote attacked a dog in the area. In Mount Vernon, the police department issued an advisory cautioning that a small dog was recently attacked near North Columbus Avenue and California Road by what was reported to be a coyote. It is the latest sighting in the area, and the first reported attack. Earlier story - Coyote Advisory Issued In Westchester After Multiple Sightings “Please remember that we share our environment with wild animals, so while it is rare that they appear in Mount Vernon, they do appear from time to time…

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by Zak Failla
News
State Forest In Region Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Announce State Forest In Region Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Announce
State Forest In Region Doubles In Size After New Acquisition, Officials Announce New York State officials announced the acquisition of 1,175 acres of land, more than doubling the size of a a state forest in the region. Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement about the acquisition of the lands in Rensselaer County adjoining Pittstown State Forest on the Rensselaer Plateau in Grafton on Wednesday, April 20. "New York State is laser focused on preserving and enhancing open space, and the Rensselaer Plateau, just a short visit from the Capitol, provides a spectacular outdoor escape from Albany's bustling downtown," Hochul said. "Today's addition to the Pittstown State …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway
Contaminated Water In These NY Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway A national study is measuring the effects of contaminated drinking water in nearly a dozen regions of the country including towns near a Hudson Valley National Guard base. The contaminants, known as PFAS, are also called “forever” chemicals because they stay in bodies for many years and have been linked to potentially serious health problems. In many cases, the source of PFAS in the groundwater is likely past use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in the area. At airports and military bases, the foam is used as a fire suppressant to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires. Th…

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by Jon Craig
News
NY Agencies Prepare Emergency Response Assets Ahead Of Nor'easter NY Agencies Prepare Emergency Response Assets Ahead Of Nor'easter
NY Agencies Prepare Emergency Response Assets Ahead Of Nor'easter New York State agencies have prepared emergency response assets ahead of a winter storm that could bring more than a foot of snow to parts of the state. The storm could bring heavy snow to parts of Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley regions beginning in the evening of Friday, Jan. 28, according to an announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul. Some areas could see between 6 and 12 inches of snow by the night of Saturday, Jan. 29. "A winter storm system moving up the coast has the potential to deliver heavy snow, gusty winds, and create dangerous travel conditions across downstate l…

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by Nicole Valinote
Police & Fire
New Details: Hundreds Of Vehicles Involved In Crashes On Icy Roads In Area New Details: Hundreds Of Vehicles Involved In Crashes On Icy Roads In Area
New Details: Hundreds Of Vehicles Involved In Crashes On Icy Roads In Area Police have provided an update on the string of crashes amid icy conditions on major roadways in the region during the height of the morning commute on Wednesday, Jan. 5. Shortly before 6:00 a.m., state police began responding to a multitude of weather-related crashes involving hundreds of vehicles. The majority of the crashes involved multi-vehicles and were property damage only, police said, but one was fatal. One person was killed at about 6:30 a.m. in a crash on the ramp connecting the eastbound Cross County Parkway to the northbound Bronx River Parkway, according to Westchester County…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Final New York Firefighters Return From Battling Wildfires In Oregon, California Final New York Firefighters Return From Battling Wildfires In Oregon, California
Final New York Firefighters Return From Battling Wildfires In Oregon, California The final four New York State wildland firefighters who were battling blazes in Oregon and California have returned home after completing their two-week assignments. The four firefighters are all Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers, according to an announcement from Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul said Ranger Bryan Gallagher, who is from Suffolk County, was a facility unit leader at the Dixie Fire in California.  Ranger Charles Kabrehl, of Warren County, also worked at the Dixie Fire as a task force leader.  Ranger Joseph Hess, from Saratoga County, worked as …

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Ida: Hundreds Of Rescues Performed During Storm; Downstate NY Remains In State Of Emergency Ida: Hundreds Of Rescues Performed During Storm; Downstate NY Remains In State Of Emergency
Ida: Hundreds Of Rescues Performed During Storm; Downstate NY Remains In State Of Emergency After Tropical Depression Ida brought historic rainfall to parts of the region, flash flooding, and scores of power outages, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is directing additional state agency assets to respond to the areas impacted. The storm, which began moving through the area on Wednesday, Sept. 1, caused flooding on a number of roadways across Long Island, the lower Mid-Hudson and New York City, the state said. In Westchester and Rockland counties, New York State Fire and State Police, along with the Department of Environmental Conservation participated in about 100 rescues, the state…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
NY State Agencies Prepare Emergency Response For Tropical Depression Ida NY State Agencies Prepare Emergency Response For Tropical Depression Ida
NY State Agencies Prepare Emergency Response For Tropical Depression Ida New York State agencies are preparing emergency response assets as Tropical Depression Ida is set to impact the region with heavy rain and the potential for flash flooding in some areas. The storm arrived on Wednesday, Sept. 1, and is expected to pass through by late Thursday afternoon, Sept. 2. Related story: Ida Arrives With Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds, Flash Flooding; Isolated Tornadoes Possible "The remnants of Hurricane Ida are forecast to impact downstate and eastern parts of the state, including New York City, Long Island, and parts of the Southern Tier, Mid-Hudson Valley, and Capital r…

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by Nicole Valinote