Parts of Keene flooded quickly on Monday following a heavy rainstorm and warm temperatures that melted some of last week’s snowfall. Parts of Jay flooded and some residents briefly lost power. Parts of downtown Tupper Lake were also flooded, with some residents’ basements taking on water.

Jay town Supervisor Matt Stanley said the town of Jay was under a state of emergency on Monday. At around 2:30 p.m., the town of Jay recommended residents evacuate the lower sections of Jersey and Intervale Avenue in AuSable Forks because the AuSable River was over 11 feet deep at that point and another inch of rain was expected. Citing emergency evacuation during Hurricane Irene, which happened when the river hit 12 feet and 4 inches, the town recommended that evacuation start early. The community center in AuSable Forks opened as a shelter managed by the Red Cross. Around 5:30 p.m., the town of Jay reported on its Facebook page that the AuSable River “looks liek it might have crested just shy of 12 feet.”

Holt Road, Airport Road, Hurricane Road and Hulls Falls Road in Keene were closed; in Jay, state Route 9N between Trumbull’s Corners Road and Styles Brook Road, state Route 9N between Jay and Upper Jay, state Route 9N between Jay and AuSable Forks, Hesseltine Road, Carey Road, Grove Road, Randy’s Lane, and Trumbull’s Corner Road to Valley Road were closed. Sheldrake Road between Jersey Bridge and Stickney Bridge Road was open to local traffic only. Elk Lake Road in North Hudson was also closed as of Monday morning, according to Essex County Emergency Services. Parts of state Route 73 were reduced to one lane or closed entirely. Mirror Lake Drive in Lake Placid was closed at the intersection of Northwood Road and River Road was closed between state Routes 73 and 86, according to county Emergency Services. The intersection of state Routes 9N and and 73 had visible flooding along the roadside. The AuSable River was seen overflowing along the side of state Route 73 across from Marcy Field. Water Street in Elizabethtown, Taylor Road and Ledge Hill Road in Westport, Ensign Pond Road in Moriah, and Spear Road and parts of Whallons Bay Road in Essex were also closed.

Wilmington town Supervisor Roy Holzer said that there was “minor flooding” at the Wilmington Town Beach.

By Monday afternoon, parts of Route 73 were closed to traffic as the AuSable River overflowed into the roadway. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

The National Weather Service in Burlington, Vermont predicted upward of 2.5 inches of total rainfall and, combined with the snowmelt and sharp rises of area rivers and streams, expected minor to moderate flooding in areas throughout the region.

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Keene

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When contacted by phone around 5:30 p.m. Monday, Keene town Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson Jr. said that the flooding was starting to clear and the town was shifting toward assessing and controlling damage.

A section of state Route 73 is seen here after flooding hit the region on Monday. (Provided photo — New York State Department of Transportation)

“Thankfully this afternoon the water levels started to drop. We still have lots of road closures and we’ve got to assess damage,” he said. “We had a number of houses flooded, but luckily nobody needed evacuation, so that was a real relief.”

Wilson said that the damage on state Route 73 between Lake Placid and Keene was the most significant long-term project the town faced on Monday night. Floodwaters significantly damaged the asphalt and the state Department of Transportation was called out to assess the damage.

“It’s not like there’s a little mud and water on it — there’s no traveling on that road,” Wilson said.

Keene Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jody Whitney said around 9:15 a.m. that the water from the Ausable River was close to coming over state Route 73 in a few spots, but a few roads in town were closed due to flooding.

“People should be staying home,” Whitney said. “Slow down on the roadways, and I wouldn’t cross standing water.”

A section of state Route 73 is seen here after flooding hit the region on Monday. (Provided photo — New York State Department of Transportation)

Keene Central School had its students and staff at the building while the floodwaters were rising and dismissed classes at 9 a.m., sending everyone home, according to KCS Superintendent Dan Mayberry.

“The water rose very quickly, and we were already sort of in transit getting people here and making sure that parents have arrangements for their kids,” he said.

Mayberry heard about the flooding on his way to work from his home in Lake Placid shortly after 7 a.m. If Route 73 closed by the time he started driving home, he said he can get to Lake Placid by way of the Adirondack Northway to Plattsburgh and south from there if necessary.

School started at 8 a.m. for the 168 students and 53 employees, but it took about an hour for parents to plan and make sure their children would be safe after school let out.

“That way it gave families time,” he said. “We didn’t want to send kids home on the bus and have nobody be there.”

Flooding on MacKenzie Pond Road near the Ray Brook end spilled out half-way into one lane after torrential rain on Monday. Some drivers going from Ray Brook to Saranac Lake swerved to avoid it, some were forced to hit the puddle because of oncoming traffic. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

This does not count as a snow day for KCS because they were already in attendance.

“It impacts the number of hours but not our day,” Mayberry said. “Had I actually known that the flooding was going to be as bad as it was — because that wasn’t necessarily the forecast, at least for the direct area where we are — I probably would have canceled.”

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Lake Placid

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A whirlpool formed in the water next to MacKenzie Pond Road near at the Ray Brook end after torrential rain on Monday as the culvert struggled to keep water flowing toward state Route 86. The water spilled out half-way into one lane of the road, and cars that hit it sent up plumes of water higher than their roofs. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Lake Placid Central School District students were sent home early, at 1 p.m. on Monday, “in light of flooding concerns and road closures across the region,” according to a social media post from the district.

“There will be no after school activities today or after school programs at the elementary school or at the Shipman Youth Center,” the post reads.

Employees at the Olympic Center who live in the floodplain were sent home for the day, according to Olympic Center General Manager Chadd Cassidy.

On the Ray Brook end of McKenzie Pond Road, water flooded onto the pavement, covering half of one lane for Saranac Lake-bound traffic. Cars avoided it by swerving into the opposing lane. When there was oncoming traffic, they hit the water, sending huge plumes into the air, higher than the roofs of the vehicles.

On one side of the road, a whirlpool formed, draining water through a submerged culvert. On the other side of the road, between McKenzie Pond Road and state Route 86, water roared, funneling out through the culvert under the other main road.

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Franklin County

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Franklin County Manager Donna Kissane declared a state of emergency on Monday morning. She was watching the rain and after hearing from highway superintendents and legislators around the county about flooding in their areas.

As of noon, Kissane said there were partial road closings on county Routes 25 and 41 in the north end of the county, there was also flooding on county Routes 8, 16, 28, 29, 39 and 44 in the southern end.

There was also “significant flooding” on Stetson Road in Tupper Lake and flooding reported on McLaughlin Avenue and Leboeuf Street.

After several conversations with county Highway Superintendent Ed Adams and Board of Legislators Chair Ed Lockwood they agreed she needed to do something. The list of flooded roads was getting bigger as she typed up the state of emergency, Kissane said.

The state of emergency says the rain storms have caused “dangerous flooding and damage to many critical roads.”

“Some roads have significant water on them whereby the flooding occurring is causing damage to homes and impassable roads,” she wrote in the declaration. “Presently several roads have been partially closed due to the water level.”

The state of emergency began at 10 a.m. on Monday. It will last for 30 days, until Jan. 16. Kissane said this state can be rescinded at any time and can be extended if they need.

“It doesn’t mean the roads will stay closed that long. We don’t anticipate that,” Kissane said. “We do that so we can evaluate the significance of damaging. Sometimes it takes a while to really get in there and see the damage anywhere.”

Declaring a state of emergency will possibly give the county better access to recovery funds, should they need money to fix up roads around the county. Right now it’s hard to know what they’ll need, Kissane said, so this gives them the option if they need to take it.

She said she’d share the declaration with all the towns and villages if they need to issue their own states of emergency.

A reverse 911 call was sent out to residents to warn them of the hazardous traveling conditions.

“We encourage everyone to drive cautiously if they must be on the roads and if not, stay home,” the call stated.

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Tupper Lake

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Tupper Lake Mayor Mary Fontana said things were “damp” in Tupper Lake on Monday.

“There’s a lot of reports of people who have water in their basements,” she said in the morning.

By the afternoon, she said there was more property damage downtown with basements flooding and standing water in the lower-lying Junction area. Fontana said the Department of Public Works was working to address the issues.

There was flooding on Stetson Road, McLaughlin Avenue and Leboeuf Street with standing water on the roads and partial closures of the traffic through there.

Fontana said the Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department was out telling people to use caution and monitoring the roads. All other village departments were “out in force” making sure all the infrastructure is working well, she said.

“They’re highly traveled roads,” Fontana said. “All of them, unfortunately.”

And the roads are in areas of town which don’t typically see standing water, she added. After getting several inches of snow last week, the powder melted Monday and ran downhill to pool in low-lying areas.

“My kid cried when we walked out of the front of the house this morning. She was like, ‘My snow!'” Fontana said. “Obviously, first and foremost, I don’t want to see any property damage. In a close second is my dear love of winter.”

Fontana was glad Kissane declared a state of emergency. This gives the village access to FEMA money, should they need it. She said it is too early to say now if they will.

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This is a breaking news story. More details will be added to this report as they become available.

Water flooded across the intersection of state routes 73 and 9N Monday morning. (Provided photo — Lauren Yates)

The AuSable River, seen here along state Route 73 in Keene Valley across from Marcy Field, overflowed Monday morning. (Provided photo — Lauren Yates)

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