Ann Fields has lived on Bay Front Lane North for over seven years and says “There’s nothing like living on the water.”

Its clear Fields loves the Irondequoit location, but she says she could do without the “ponds and pools in every backyard,” all caused by the high water level.

“It’s definitely had an impact on our home. More particular the yard and it’s the daily stress and work and cost and filth of it all,” said Fields, who also talks about how after the dangerous flooding in 2017, neighbors took action.

“We invested the year after the flood in improving the parking lot and having it paved and raised and having the shoreline protected,” answered Fields.

First responders are taking just as much as a risk as the residents living in these flooded areas.

Point Pleasant Fire Chief Peter Clarcq says, “If they [the residents] need us, we’re going to be there and do the best we can to help them.” He says the flooding presents special challenges for first responders, and over the course of three weeks, fire crews have responded to over a dozen calls in the area — he urges residents to take every precaution.

“If you have water in your basement and it’s threatening your utilities, your heat and air conditioning, your hot water heater, it is no longer safe to be there,” says Chief Clarcq. “Be aware of what’s going on around you. If you see water in the areas not typical, you should not enter that not knowing the depth of it or the hazards that go along with it.”

Clarcq explains that there are areas of Irondequoit where roadways are been closed off and does limits firefighters access to those in need, but they adapt to each situation.

"As much as we prepare for similar incidents or similar calls for service, there's always that factor that something else may happen and we are often thinking on our feet,” he said.

Chief Clarcq says it is not at the discretion of the fire department to be able to tell residents when they can or cannot be within their homes. “That typically comes through a code enforcement or fire marshal in their local jurisdiction," he clarifies.

If flooding makes a home unsafe to reside in, the fire marshal will work with the residents to find other opportunities, according to fire officials.