Concern over rising waters in Lake Ontario is prompting Governor Andrew Cuomo to get some flood prevention resources to communities along the lake.

  • Lake Ontario’s water level higher than average
  • Nearly 7,000 feet of aquadam prepared
  • Municipalities handing out sandbags ahead of flooding

The state deployed hundreds of thousands of sandbags Sunday, along with folks to help fill them. 

"We are preparing and assuming that there will be flooding later in the week," said Cuomo. "Hopefully that doesn't come to pass but we are preparing for that reality. My point before is we have to just accept the new reality that we are continually exceeding the past averages."

 

 

Lake water levels are about a foot above average, but still lower than the record levels during the spring of 2017. Officials say between Monroe and Wayne counties, about 10,000 sandbags were filled up over the weekend.

State officials say nearly 7,000 feet of aquadam are also being prepared.

In Greece, where record-high lake levels flooded Edgemere Drive, a two-year-old flood prevention plan is also engaged. Leaders have the capacity to deliver 30,000 sandbags now, and can escalate its response to have 250,000 sandbags available. 

The town of Greece has already built a burm along Round Pond and upgrade its sewer system to shut off flow from the town's ponds to prevent flooding. Residents who wish to place sandbags on their property to prevent flooding this spring may pick them up at the Greece DPW building and Goodwin Park. 

To the east, Sodus Point residents in a low lying waterfront community are still recovering from devestating floods two years ago. 

"If it gets much higher, I don't know if they're gonna start putting a ban on speed on the lake and stuff again," said Bob Olmstead of Arney's Marina. "That kinda ruined that year pretty good because no one wanted to use their boats around here cause they couldn't go very fast."

 

Officials recently built a new aquadam along Greig Street in the village. Mayor Dave McDowell says they are keeping a watchful eye on lake levels and the forecast. 

"We're doing everything we can to try to protect the village and make sure all the businesses stay open and we all have a safe and fun summer," said McDowell.