High water, flooded roads and property damage in the millions.
That was the story just two years ago along the shoreline of Lake Ontario and what many residents and business owners fear may be looming once again.
While the water level is nearly six inches higher than it was last year at this time, both local municipalities as well as state agencies say they’re doing everything they can to avoid a repeat of 2017.
Sodus Point, one of several areas impacted by the flooding on Lake Ontario, has been preparing ever since – and with the recent rise in water levels – has begun taking preliminary precautions.
Mayor Dave McDowell says the village is now in “active preparations mode” and that they are progressing well so far.
April 30, 2019 – Sodus, NY – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo provides an update on the state’s preparation to protect communities along the shores of Lake Ontario from flooding. (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)
Earlier in the week, the Department of Environmental Conservation along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued declarations of emergency, clearing the way for the agencies to mobilize additional federal support should serious flooding occur.
Though the word “emergency” triggers alarms for many, the Sodus Point Mayor stresses there is no significant flooding yet, and that streets and local businesses are open and ready for visitors.
According to McDowell, crews are scheduled to begin placing sandbags on Monday. They’ll be starting at the lowest elevations in the village and working their way up from there, with additional sandbags being made available to residents after the initial placements have been made.
New York State has provided a temporary dam that has already been setup to mitigate damage at one of the lowest areas in the village, replacing what would have been nearly 50 pallets of sandbags.
In addition, the village has six pumps that stand at the ready should water levels continue to rise.
It’s steps such as this that give local business owners and area residents cautious optimism for the season ahead.
Kelly Grey, one of the owners of Hots Point in the village, says she’s “staying positive thanks to all the preliminary work already taking place.”
As for the cause, many are continuing to voice objections over the International Joint Commission and their influence on Lake Ontario, while others have expressed growing concern that these elevated levels are a product of climate change and could eventually become the new normal.
While politicians are quick to point fingers and give soundbites urging others to fix the problem, Grey, along with local business owners all along Lake Ontario, are focused on getting just one message out: They are open.
For now, most involved say they’re as ready as they will be considering the current state.
As with most things that involve mother nature, it’s still a game of wait and see.
For the latest on water levels, forecasts and updates, Sodus Point has setup a page that can be found at soduspoint.info/water-levels-information/ that will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.
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