Ë®¹ûÅÉAV

According to the National Weather Service, the city of Auburn and parts of Cayuga County had some of the highest rainfall totals in the region over the past three days. As of 10:50 a.m. Thursday, the city had 7.64 inches of rain since Tuesday. Cayuga and Scipio Center had over six inches of rain, while 3.72 inches of rain was reported in Aurora.Ìý

In the town of Owasco, Wagner said there are multiple reports of flooded basements, sewers overflowing and road closures. Two houses will be condemned, including one on Burtis Point where the water came in through the second floor and flooded the house.Ìý

There are 25 boats floating loose on Owasco Lake and the Owasco Fire Department had to remove its boat from the water because of the high water levels.Ìý

The U.S. Geological Survey says Owasco Lake is at 714.47 feet, up from 712.7 feet on Tuesday. The flood stage for the lake is 715 feet.Ìý

"We've had flooding, but not to this extent," Wagner told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV. "Before, it was isolated. Now, we're getting hit from all sides. The city is concerned about the (state Canal Corporation) and what's downstream. We're concerned about what's upstream. This is more of a county-wide catastrophic situation right now." 

He added that there is debris in the water and advised residents to stay off the water and avoid low-lying areas.Ìý

Cayuga County Legislature Chairwoman Aileen McNabb-Coleman told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV that she was on the verge of buying additional barriers and cones due to the road closures caused by the flooding. When the sheriff's office announced its unnecessary travel advisory, it mentioned that highway crews were running out of barriers and cones to notify motorists that roads were closed.Ìý

Those purchases weren't needed, but it still highlighted how bad conditions were, especially in the southern part of the county.Ìý

"We have a lot of erosion issues," McNabb-Coleman said. "A lot of flooded basements and low-lying areas. A lot of floating debris. It's a lot to process and, of course, this summer ... we've had a few of these events. But this one is a big one." 

Cayuga County Legislator Mark Strong, who represents the towns of Moravia, Niles, Sempronius and Summerhill, said there are businesses and homes affected by flooding, especially in the village of Moravia. He heard reports of similar conditions throughout the county.Ìý

Strong is among the homeowners who are trying to keep their basements dry. When the rain began Tuesday, he had to dig a ditch at his house because of the high water levels.Ìý

"Everybody is in the same boat," he said, adding that he's had 7.7 inches of rain at his house over the past three days.

The Owasco Inlet in Moravia reached major flooding stage overnight, peaking at 10.57 feet early Thursday morning. Major flood stage for the inlet begins at 9.5 feet. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the inlet level was down to 8.62 feet. Minor flood stage for the inlet is between 8.5 and 8 feet.

Flooding has been more common after heavy rainstorms in Cayuga County. In July, there was a flash flooding, most notably at Casowasco in Scipio. It caused extensive damage to the campground and retreat center. There were campers on the grounds at the time, but no one was injured.Ìý

But this storm was different. There are flooded areas at Emerson Park, which is on the shore of Owasco Lake. North Brook, which runs through Hoopes Park in Auburn, is flooded. The pond at the park was close to overflowing Thursday afternoon.Ìý

The city of Auburn notified the public of a high flow event in Owasco River due to the heavy rainfall. City officials urged the public to avoid the river.Ìý

Throughout the county, McNabb-Coleman said crews are in the early stages of assessing the damage to make repairs. But there is also a desire to increase resiliency to protect against floods.Ìý

"We just have to take a global look and make sure we're doing all we can to mitigate future events," she said.Ìý

A public Facebook group created that morning, already had 300 members by 4 p.m. Dozens of posts show pictures of pontoon boats, Jet Skis, kayaks and more that have either gone missing or been discovered over the past day. The posts reunited some watercraft with their owners, but several more remain unaccounted for.

Coordinating a similar effort is the Cayuga County 911 Center. As of 3:30 p.m. Thursday, the center had compiled a list of about 15 watercraft that people had lost or found, dispatcher Patty Campbell told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV. Most of them have been reunited with their owners. Campbell encouraged anyone else searching for watercraft, or the owner of one, to call the center at (315) 253-1222.

"So far we've been pretty lucky," she said. "Everybody's been super helpful, especially in a time like this when it's just a mess everywhere."

Dealing with both lost and found watercraft is Lisa Forshee, of Brook Hollow Drive in Owasco. Not only was her Bennington pontoon boat set adrift by the high water levels, but her neighbor's boat washed up in her driveway. Forshee's boat was found and is docked on the west side of the lake, but she and her neighbors face another problem now: Their docks have been washed away, too.

"Everybody's boats are gone, everybody's docks are gone," she said.

Forshee, who moved to Brookhollow Drive about two years ago, said neighbors who've lived there for decades told her the levels of Owasco Lake have never been this bad. Her boat, and those of some neighbors, already escaped once this summer, about a month ago. The dock was also damaged then, she continued, but not destroyed the way it was this week.

"I've only been on the boat for fun twice this year, and I had to rescue it twice this year," she said. "It's really been a struggle."

Further south at Camp Y-Owasco, the high water levels washed away about 15 kayaks, head counselor and lifeguard Rachel Pflueger told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV. The camp also lost some of its sailboats, its docks are completely submerged, its drainage pipes are clogged by rocks and logs that have washed into them, and its north driveway is closed due to overflowing gullies.

The camp itself was rained out as well, Pflueger said, as the conditions led several children and staff to miss the last few days of their summer at Y-Owasco.Ìý

"We are left with a lot of unsaid goodbyes," she said. "We are all left upset and devastated from this storm. No one expected the storm to be as dangerous as it was."

As of Thursday afternoon, the level of Owasco Lake is 714.47 feet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The lake's flood stage is 715 feet. The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office issued a travel advisory Thursday morning that has since been lifted, and the city of Auburn advises "extreme caution" near the similarly high levels of the Owasco River.

Police said a 15-year-old grabbed the woman from behind, took her to the ground and tried several times to remove some of her clothing. The woman struggled, screamed and fought back. A person in the neighborhood shouted at the teenager and he eventually stopped.

The children who had been walking with the woman were not directly attacked but saw the incident as it unfolded, police said.

Police said they located the male attacker in the area and determined that he is 15 years old. He was charged with first-degree attempted rape, a felony, and seven misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The APD said that the suspect's name will not be released because he is a juvenile.

Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact lead investigator Detective Adam Rivers at (315) 567-0073, by email at arivers@auburnny.gov,  or to call the main APD phone number at (315) 253-3231. Callers may remain anonymous.

Earlier report:Ìý

The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office has issued a no unnecessary travel advisory due to flooding, especially in the southern part of the county and low-lying areas near waterways.Ìý

Emergency crews and highway departments are running short of barrels and barricades to close all the flooded roadways, according to the sheriff's office. Travel conditions are hazardous in many areas. Flooded roadways may be washed out or have heavy currents.Ìý

The sheriff's office urges motorists to avoid all unnecessary travel until further notice.Ìý

Early Thursday, Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck issued a travel advisory due to flood conditions. There has been heavy rainfall in Cayuga County over the past two days. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Moravia area until 1 p.m. today. A flash flood watch is also in effect.Ìý

According to the weather service, heavy rain has moved north of the area, but there is lingering flooding along the Owasco Inlet and the village of Moravia. Floodwaters are expected to recede over the next few hours.Ìý

Other locations will experience flooding, including the city of Auburn and several towns and villages in the southern half of the county.

Because of the weather conditions, the sheriff's office said roadways may be covered over, culverts may be undermined or washed out, and debris may be washing into the roadway.

According to the National Weather Service, the Owasco Inlet in Moravia reached major flooding stage overnight, peaking at 10.57 feet. Major flood stage for the inlet is 9.5 feet. As of 9:17 a.m. Thursday, the inlet level was down to 9.93 feet.

Other Cayuga County water bodies tracked by NWS remained below flood stages but were considerably elevated. The Owasco Lake gauge, which is located toward the northern shore, at 8:45 a.m. showed a level of 714.1 feet above sea level (minor flood stage is 715 feet), while the Owasco River in Auburn was at 6.46 feet as of 9 a.m. (minor flood stage is 8 feet).

The city of Auburn posted high river flow notice for the Owasco River, noting that flows will be above 1,000 cubic feet per second into the weekend as the city attempts to keep Owasco Lake at safe levels by adjusting gates at its dams.

"The purpose of this notice is to inform the public to stay away from and use extreme caution near and around the Owasco River," the notice states. "Several areas along the Owasco River and all other streams in the City have already experienced localized flooding and there will continue to be an increased risk for localized flooding and personal injury can result in areas along these rivers, brooks and streams, as well as, downstream from the City of Auburn. The public should take caution and avoid unnecessary contact with the Owasco River and other water tributaries at all times."

On Thursday afternoon, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office put out a travel advisory for all waterways in the county, noting high levels of water and excess debris. The office also instituted a 5 mph "no wake" rule for waters in the canal system that runs through the county.

The festivities are part of Centennial +1, a celebration of the 101th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment hosted by the nearby Howland Stone Store Museum. The museum, which oversaw the restoration of Opendore, will also host a performance of pro-suffrage quotes by the New Perspectives Theatre Company Saturday night at the Morgan Opera House in Aurora.Ìý

For Larry Bell, a historian and secretary of the museum's board of trustees, the weekend represents a big step in an important mission.

"Our mission is to tell the stories of Sherwood," he said. "And there are compelling stories to tell here. Wonderful stories that we can learn from, I think."

The niece of renowned suffragist Emily Howland, Isabel inherited the 1837 house at 2978 Route 34B from her father in the early 1900s. She expanded it and, earning the house its name, opened the doors to the community, including suffragists and other reformers. After the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote was ratified in August 1920, the house remained in the Howland family until Isabel passed away in 1942. It then changed hands several times, and was vacant from the 1970s until the museum bought it from Cayuga County by paying its back taxes in 2008.

By then, the house had deteriorated so much that it was unsafe to enter. But the museum quickly secured $5,000 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, as the Sherwood Equal Rights Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum also secured $400,000 from the state Environmental Protection Fund by raising a matching amount on its own.

In 2013, the first phase of the house's restoration began with the stabilization of the north wing. Much of the structure was too deteriorated to even be restored, and had to be torn down.Ìý

A few years later, the museum solicited bids for the second phase, the west wing. But the board took pause when they came in higher than anticipated, Bell said. That's when the trustees decided to source as much of the work from the public as it could. A former historic restoration carpenter himself, Bell knew he and his fellow volunteers had the ability to help bring Opendore back to life.

"It's been a labor of love," he said. "We're people who just enjoy being together and working together." 

More specialized work, such as electrical, plumbing, flooring, roofing and masonry, remained in the hands of contractors. Otherwise, volunteers logged 11,800 hours working on Opendore, Bell said. That helped the museum lower the project's budget, which he estimated to be more than $1 million. The volunteer hours counted toward the museum's match of the $400,000 grant, he added.

The house is fully restored, and ready for occupancy, as it reopens for this weekend's ribbon-cutting. Only some work on the rest of the 9-acre property remains, Bell said. The museum plans to install a parking lot next year, and complete some landscaping as well. That includes a nature trail on the property in need of further development before it can also open to the public.

For now, though, Opendore itself gives the museum the exhibition space and facilities it envisioned when it purchased the historic property.

That will be apparent this weekend, when the house opens exhibits about its own history and that of Emily Howland, who will be inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls in October. Isabel and her ties to the Letchworth family is the subject of another. Upstairs, Bell said, there will be a recreation of the Sherwood Political Equality Club based on pictures of it taken around 1917. Posters shown in the pictures will be rehung, as they're still in the collection of the museum. It also hopes to recreate other period details of the meeting, such as the typewriter and phone.

The house's meeting room will fit up to 65 people when it hosts the museum's programs, Bell continued. Its storage area has climate control, which is crucial to preserving those posters and other historic items possessed by the museum. And Opendore was restored with modern restrooms, a kitchen and full accessibility, further helping to take the house and museum into the present.

"This once was such a glorious estate," Bell said. "Restoring it is more than any one of us could have done."

On Sept. 21, Michael will deliver the photos to the Library of Congress in Washington for its Veterans History Project, which is a collection of first-hand accounts from wartime veterans. The project, which is accessible online at currently has stories, letters, documents and photos from about 110,000 veterans.

Michael Chamberlain said his father's photos are one of the largest image donations ever made to the program. He's hoping attention on this donation will inspire other veterans and their families to participate.

"It is important that veterans and their families take time to preserve their stories," the Chamberlain family wrote in a press release. "This is especially true as a new generation of wartime veterans – those who served in Vietnam – are reaching their ‘golden years.’"

Carl Chamberlain, who would have turned 100 in July, volunteered with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (82nd Airborne) and was deployed to North Africa in 1943, according to his son. Carl had combat jumps during the invasions of Sicily and Italy and fought in the battles at Alta Villa, Mount Sammucro and Anzio.

Carl Chamberlain later served with the 334th Aerial Resupply Battalion of the First Airborne Task Force. He took part in the invasion of southern France in August 1944 and served in the the Battle of the Bulge. He settled in Auburn after he was discharged when the war in Europe ended.

Carl, who died in 1993 at age 73, was born in Worcester, New York, and raised in nearby Schenevus.

The Chamberlain family donation to the project has been in the works since 2019, and was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city said that injury can result in areas along these rivers, brooks and streams, as well as downstream from the city of Auburn. The public should take caution and avoid unnecessary contact with the Owasco River and other water tributaries at all times.

Due to extremely wet weather received over the past 48 hours, flow in the Owasco River will remain above 1,000 cubic feet per second for the next few days. The high flow event is expected to continue through the weekend of Aug. 20-22.

The Department of Municipal Utilities will be continually monitoring flow and downstream flooding impacts during this event. Flow in the Owasco River will be reduced once upstream flows and lake elevation normalize, however, this will take the next few days.

The High River Flow Notification and Emergency Action Plan for the Mill Street Dam and State Dam have been initiated. Department of Municipal Utilities staff will continue to monitor river flow and all critical assets on a regular basis.

The city said the Sewer Department had been dispatched since 3 a.m. Thursday responding to backed-up basements due to high flows in the sewer system. Interceptor sewers are currently flowing at capacity.

The city Wastewater Treatment Plant has been at maximum capacity — 52 million gallons a day — since 1 a.m. Normal treatment flow is approximately 8 million gallons a day. The city's Combined Sewer Overflow facilities have been activated since Wednesday, the city said, and officials are following all state DEC NYALERT protocols associated with sewer overflows because of wet weather.

As of Thursday afternoon, DEC reported sewage discharges into the river at five locations in the city: Wadsworth, Genesee, Miller, Osborne and Canoga streets.

The Owasco Lake elevation was nearing 714.20 feet above sea level Thursday morning, significantly above the normal target of 712.75 and will likely continue to rise over the next 24 hours due to even heavier rainfalls south of Auburn. Minor flood stage for the lake is 715 feet.

To report any concerns associated with high water flows the public can call the City Water Filtration Plant at (315) 253-8754.

The driver, Fermin P. Vasquez, 66, of Wingdale, and 56 passengers were injured. State police said the injuries range from minor to serious.Ìý

Vasquez is among approximately 26 people who were transported to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. Injured passengers were also sent to Auburn Community Hospital and Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.Ìý

Matthew Chadderdon, a spokesman for Auburn Community Hospital, confirmed the hospital received 27 passengers who were hurt in the crash. The patients at Auburn hospital have a mix of minor and serious injuries, he said.Ìý

The hospital mobilized its incident command system to respond to the bus crash. The Red Cross and the hospital's social workers are helping passengers who need food, a place to stay, or to contact their families.Ìý

"All of that was coordinated really well," Chadderdon said.Ìý

There was a massive emergency response to the crash. Multiple ambulance services, fire departments and air ambulances arrived at the scene to render aid and transport victims to area hospitals.Ìý

Both westbound lanes were closed due to the crash. Traffic was diverted off exit 40 and the Thruway Authority advised motorists to use alternate routes.Ìý

One westbound lane reopened after more than an hour. By 6:30 p.m., both lanes were open. But the Thruway announced at 8:24 p.m. that the right lane on I-90 between exits 39 and 41 is closed due to "road maintenance operations." 

The cause of the crash is unknown. The state police, which is investigating the crash, asked anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact Investigator Brad Holcomb at (315) 539-3530.Ìý

The Cayuga County Health Department reported 71 new cases in two days, the most in a two-day period since late January. It's a significant increase for the county, which has 279 cases in August — nearly the same total in 17 days as it had in all of May (280).Ìý

Cayuga County's active case count rose to 192, up from 178 two days ago and 107 one week ago. The number of residents in isolation hasn't been this high since the end of January.Ìý

Because of the recent rise in cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Cayuga County is an area with a high level of COVID-19 transmission. The agency recommends individuals in counties with high or substantial transmission levels, regardless of their vaccination status, wear masks in indoor public settings.

Hospitalizations in Cayuga County remain unchanged, with nine COVID-related patients at Auburn Community Hospital. But that doesn't include residents who are hospitalized outside of the county.Ìý

No new deaths were reported. There have been 91 virus-related fatalities in Cayuga County.Ìý

Health officials are trying to boost the vaccination rate before school starts in September. According to the CDC, 49.4% of Cayuga County's total population is fully vaccinated. The vaccination rate is higher (56.4%) among eligible residents ages 12 and older.Ìý

Anyone ages 12 and older can get the Pfizer vaccine, while Johnson & Johnson and Moderna are available for adults ages 18 and older.Ìý

The Cayuga County Health Department will hold a walk-in vaccination clinic from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at Scipio Fire Department, 3550 Route 34, Scipio Center. Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be offered at the clinic.Ìý

Children ages 12-17 who are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.Ìý

Seven patients were transferred to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse for further treatment, while one person was moved to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.Ìý

Chadderdon told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV on Saturday that injuries ranged from minor to serious.Ìý

For the patients who were discharged from Auburn hospital, Chadderdon said the Red Cross assisted them with hotel accommodations, clothing and food.Ìý

"The crisis response system worked flawlessly," he added.Ìý

Darryl Geddes, a spokesman for Upstate University Hospital, said the hospital started receiving patients at 1:53 p.m. Saturday. By 3:30 p.m., there were approximately 30 patients who were injured in the bus crash.Ìý

There was no update from Upstate on how many of the patients were admitted or discharged. Geddes said a make-shift hotel was set up in one of the Upstate's ambulatory buildings for individuals who were brought to the hospital by ambulance. The passengers, who stayed at the hospital overnight, slept on cots and were provided breakfast.Ìý

When Upstate received the call notifying the hospital of a mass casualty incident, the hospital activated its incident command to assess its bed capability, staffing needs and supplies, Geddes said.Ìý

"Upstate drills for these types of mass casualty incidents, and actually had a drill that dealt with a fictitious plane crash Friday," he said.Ìý

The crash occurred Saturday afternoon about a mile west of the Weedsport Thruway exit. The 57-passenger bus owned by JTR Transportation, a Poughkeepsie-based charter bus company, was traveling westbound when it went off the road and rolled over.Ìý

The driver has been identified as Fermin P. Vasquez, 66, of Wingdale. Vasquez was sent to Upstate University Hospital for treatment of "various injuries," according to the state police.Ìý 

There was a large emergency response to the crash. Several ambulances and fire trucks were at the scene. Air ambulances were also used to transport some patients.Ìý

The crash caused lengthy delays for Thruway motorists. Both westbound lanes were closed as emergency crews transported passengers to area hospitals. One lane reopened more than an hour after the crash. By Saturday evening, both lanes reopened.Ìý

The New York State Police is investigating the crash. Anyone who has information about the accident should contact Investigator Brad Holcomb at (315) 539-3530.Ìý