Flash Flood in Allegany County, New York

Strong thunderstorms developed in a very moist atmosphere, dropping three to five inches of rain in a short amount of time onto already saturated ground. The heavy rains produced flash flooding over parts of the southern tier and Finger Lakes. In Livingston county, the Towns of Nunda and Sparta were hardest hit. A reservoir line, which provides water to Nunda's water treatment plant, was damaged. An earthen dam on the 50-million-gallon drinking water reservoir was damaged. Families living below the dam were evacuated as a precaution. Many miles of roads and road shoulders were damaged, along with several bridges and culverts. In Cattaraugus county, the town of Ischua sustained additional flood damage. Sections of Route 16 were washed out between Five Mile Road and Maplehurst Road. A resident living next to Ischua Creek said the water rose eight to ten feet in two hours between 7:00 and 9:00 PM. In Allegany county, also hard hit by previous flash flood events, the towns of Friendship, Angelica and Richburg were hardest hit. Route 275 was closed as three bridges were damaged. County Route 34 was also closed due to a bridge collapse. A woman had to be rescued by the Richburg Fire Department. The 35-year-old female tried to rescue her animals and was caught up in swift moving water and washed 300 yards downstream. The woman clung to a tree before being rescued. The three counties, Cattaraugus, Livingston, and Allegany, were later declared State and Federal Disaster areas.