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Tropical storm Irene pounded Granville Sunday night dropping more than six inches of rain in a 24-hour period causing major flooding in the village and forcing 25 families from their homes, causing a number of close calls and severely damaging several area businesses.
Residents of Factory and Depot streets and Rathbun Avenue were told they had to leave their homes Sunday evening as flood water from the Mettowee River began to rapidly climb over the banks of the river, flooding lawns and basements adjacent the fast moving waters.
Entire trees and various other kinds of debris could be seen among the churning waves of the river as a heavy rain continued to fall into the evening hours.
Village Mayor Brian LaRose and Town Supervisor Matt Hicks traveled around the village Sunday night evaluating conditions before conferring with emergency responders prior to declaring a state of emergency which was extended into Wednesday when the extent of the damage was determined Monday morning.
As a standard precaution following flooding, the village was placed on a 24-hour boil water notice.
The Indian River also overflowed its banks, flooding Zappone Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Subway and Bongos as well as McDonalds and Moore’s Corners as well as forcing residents from two homes in the area of the Route 22 and 149 intersection.
No reports of the extent of the damage were immediately available, but several feet of flood waters surrounded those structures at the height of the storm.
First responders including all Granville area fire departments, Granville EMS as well as the Washington County Sheriff’s office and the Department of Environmental Conservation police worked together providing relief as well as rescue to area residents. Fire fighters
Officials declared a state of emergency about 6 p.m. Sunday evening as rapidly rising waters forced closure of most of the bridges within the village including Church and Main streets, the Rail Trail Bridge and the pedestrian walking bridge between the museums.
Shortly before noon Monday the New York State Department of Transportation performed inspections and pronounced all of the bridges in good condition.
The Slate Valley Museum sustained minor damage as flood waters enveloped the building washing away substantial portions of the museum grounds but doing little damage to the facility.
Officials said the waters outside of the museum were two feet up the external walls, however only and inch or two of flood water made its way inside.
Monday morning, the intersection of Church Street and Route 22 remained closed even as other branches of the four-way intersection were opened as flood water receded.
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