Residents in Addison, Steuben County are now being allowed to return to their homes after they were ordered to evacuate Wednesday night. Prolonged rain brought flash flooding and a state of emergency was declared in the county.
Video posted on social media shows a bridge covered in water in Woodhull at the peak of the flooding. The water also rose enough to reach homes. Fortunately, it receded quite a bit by Thursday morning, but the damage left behind remains.
Addison was one of the areas hardest hit by flooding. At Addison High School, water overflowed from the Tuscarora Creek onto the youth baseball fields. The fields are on the south side of the village where Steuben County evacuated several homes in Wednesday night.
Authorities ordered residents not to return to their homes until crews could inspect the damage on Thursday. Those that have returned in South Addison say they have significant property damage ranging from flooded basements to destroyed driveways and gardens.
One man said his consignment shop, which borders the village is destroyed and he’s not sure what his insurance will cover. Others say they don’t remember flooding this bad.
"Well usually we get a little bit of water on the ball fields, that's kind of normal," said Kathy Riley. But we usually have not ever seen this kind of damage. The fences are gone. It's just sad."
The Steuben County Office of Emergency Services declared a state of emergency on Wednesday which remains in place. Travel in the towns of West Union, Woodhull, Troupsburg, Tuscarora, Greenwood, Canisteo, Hornellsville and Jasper is prohibited until further notice.
The Red Cross has opened two shelters for those displaced by flooding at the Canisteo Fire Hall and the Corning-Painted Post High School in Corning.
People are being asked to stay off roads so that highway, police and fire officials may continue to respond to emergencies safely.
County residents are asked not to call 911 unless it is for a true emergency.