News Release

August 28, 2011      

DC Emergency Operations Center - Sunday, August 28th AM Update

Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus joined the 6:45am briefing this morning at the Dutchess County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).    The EOC was fully activated at 6am this morning.     Currently, there are officials from the following departments and agencies coordinating emergency response from the EOC:


  • New York State Police
  • New York State Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Dutchess County Sheriff
  • Dutchess County Executive Office
  • Dutchess County Fire Coordinators
  • Dutchess County EMS Coordinators
  • American Red Cross of Dutchess County
  • Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response
  • Dutchess County Department of Public Works
  • Dutchess County Office for the Aging
  • Dutchess County Department of Health
  • Dutchess County Department of Social Services
  • Dutchess County Office of Computer Information Systems (OCIS)
  • Dutchess County Department of Planning (including GIS services)
  • Dutchess County Medical Reserve Corp
  • City of Poughkeepsie Police
  • Central Hudson


Overnight update:

  • 3 inches of rainfall overnight, winds less than anticipated.
  • Pleasant Valley Fire Department and the Dutchess County Sheriff officers assisted with evacuations from the Shady Creek Road area near the Wappinger Creek, which is prone to flooding.   Most individuals went to stay with family and friends.   Some opted to utilize the American Red Cross shelter at the Civic Center.
  • Dutchess County Sheriff Office also handled five road hazards overnight.



Weather update:

  • Storm is tracking east.
  • 3inches predicted between now and 12pm.
  • Storm is expected to pass through this region mid-day, with the back end of the storm hitting this afternoon.
  • Tropical Storm warning remains in affect, along with flooding and flash flooding warnings.
  • River and Creek levels:
    • Ten Mile River is expected to crest at 10.6 feet by 2pm today. Debris that gets carried by flood water is a concern, as it can cause related road and property  flooding.
    • Wappinger Creek is expected to crest at 12.8 feet by 2am on Monday.  Expected to be a rapid rise in water level, but water will be slow to recede.  
    • Fishkill Creek is expected to crest by mid-day on Monday.
  • American Red Cross:
    • Currently has shelters locations open at the Civic Center in the City of Poughkeepsie and at Taconic DDSO in Wassaic. Eleven people have utilized the Civic Center location, there are currently no evacuees at the Taconic DDSO location.
    • Preparing other shelter locations if necessary in Red Hook at Red Hook High School and in Wappinger at Roy C. Ketcham.
    • Shelter information is available by calling 2-1-1.


Municipal emergency shelters:

  • Town of Poughkeepsie – Community Room at the Police Department on Tucker Drive.
  • Town of Beekman – Fire District Fire House, located on Beekman-Poughquag Road.
  • Town of Milan – Town Hall at 20 Wilcox Circle in Milan is open today.
  • Town of Rhinebeck – Town Hall at 80 East Market St., Rhinebeck is open today


Dutchess Medical Reserve Corp (MRC):

  • Assisting American Red Cross with mental health and other non-medical volunteers to assist with shelter operations.


Dutchess County Department of Public Works:

  • County roads generally under control.  County sector crews are out monitoring culverts to keep them clear in effort to prevent flooding.


Residents are also reminded to call 9-1-1 ONLY in the event of an emergency.    Storm information including reports of power outages, shelter information, dry ice inquiries and other storm related questions should be directed to 2-1-1 or local media and utility websites.   Information will also be available on the County’s social media pages including Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dutchess-County-Government/73646813346  and Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/DutchessCoGov.

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