Irene bad for business(es)

Businesses at the intersection of Routes 22 and 149 took a massive hit from the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene Sunday.

As more than six inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours, the Mettowee and Indian rivers both exceeded their banks by several feet.

Reports from the National Weather Service have the rivers exceeding flood stage by seven feet at the peak of the high waters, with as much as five feet in the intersection.

Both the McDonald’s restaurant and the building that houses Subway and Bongo’s had flood waters inside Sunday evening.

Bongo’s owner Ben Bernard said he, and his brother Steve, owner of the Subway, expected to reopen within the week. “We lucked out,” he said. “There was just some water and sediment so we power-washed the place out.”

Bernard said he consulted state engineers before building the structure and had built up the site about 2.5 feet above the historic known high water mark for the area and that work paid off.

Between the lesser amount of water which made its way into the site and the type of construction of the building, one long day of work had the restaurants nearly ready to open, he said.

Due to the loss of power, however, both sites lost their complete inventories.

“It’s a loss, but it could have been worse,” Bernard said.

Monday morning fire fighters responded to the McDonalds briefs for an electrical fire, but damage from the fire was minimal, fire officials said.

Work at both sites started as soon as the flood waters receded. It was not clear at press time when the McDonalds might reopen.

While Glens Falls National Bank did experience some flooding as a result of the storm, the bank did reopen on Monday morning. While surrounded by a lake Sunday just over 100 yards from a dramatic water rescue, the bank sat high enough to limit the water damage.

“Everything is cleaned up,” head teller Dee Scarlotta said. “We’re fine; it’s just a little messy here.” Bank employees arrived early to assess the damage, she said. After the employees did some cleaning up, the bank opened at 10 a.m., about two hours later than usual.

At Moore’s Corners tractor dealership, on the south side of the Routes 22 and 149 intersection, there was some water to deal with, owner Barry Moore said. “We’re open for business,” he said, but declined to discuss any of the damage further.

At Zappone’s Chrysler Jeep Dodge, the lot that held more than 100 cars was badly flooded with two or three feet of water from the Indian River covering the vehicles at the height of the flooding.

Officials at the dealership were not available for comment by press time. In Middle Granville flood water also entered into Chapman’s General Store, the extent of the damage was not clear at press time.