Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby made its way through upstate New York state on Friday, causing extensive damage. Spectrum News 1 took a look at some of the worst hit areas.
From the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier...
“Pretty bad. I think it’s worse than '72,” Canisteo resident Terry Murphy said.
“My rain gauge says we got six and a half inches of water,” Murphy said.
...To the Capital Region, New Yorkers took cover as a fast-moving Debby produced hard rain, significant flooding, travel restrictions and power outages across the state.
Flood-prone areas in Albany and Guilderland were covered with water.
Police closed a stretch of Western Avenue near Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland due to extensive flooding.
Steuben County and the Finger Lakes Region were among the hardest hit areas.
“I left my house at 11 o’clock, we had four inches," Murphy said. "When I got back 20 minutes later, we had five and a half.”
Some New Yorkers were forced to evacuate their homes and communities.
In flood-stricken Steuben County, first responders had to rescue people trapped by floodwaters in the evacuated towns of Jasper, Woodhull and part of Addison. County manager Jack Wheeler said a half-dozen swift water rescue teams were retrieving people trapped in vehicles and homes.
“Right now, I don’t know if I can get in. I don’t know how much water was in the house,” Ann Zeltwamger of Canisteo said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the entire state as New Yorkers began picking up from the storm system.
“We’ll recover, we always do,” Murphy said.
“It is what it is," Zeltwamger said. "What are you going to do? I’ve already cried, so now it is what it is.”