Joe Turic Photography

I was out for a jog earlier tonight and thought I’d see how the bridge and farm flats in town were doing.  The bridge is still closed, but you’re able to walk across it and (sadly) observe the flood waters.  After seeing how the farm looked, I ran home, got my camera and rode my bike back to the bridge.  The area is basically a beautiful disaster.  People were kayaking through the fields and there’s a swift current where just a few days ago there was grass.  I was able to capture a few shots as dusk set in.

Right as you walk across the bridge you can see the devastation in the corn fields

I waded into the water to get a few shots, only about 8 inches deep at the spot I was standing, but moving swiftly

Looking back towards town

I’m lucky in that I don’t live in one of the many mandatory evacuation areas in New Paltz, nor did I lose power or have flooding in my home.  I can’t say that for others I know in the area.  Save for a few hours of driving rain and wind (that woke me up around 5 am), I weathered the storm by laying on the couch and watching too much TV.  I ventured out later in the day to check out the flooding.  The Walkill, as usual after a big storm, was moving swiftly, but this time carrying pumpkins and produce that undoubtedly came from the Walkill View Farm or the Gardens for Nutrition (which were both under many feet of water).  It’s a little surreal watching people fish vegetables from the river like they’re shopping at the market and in some ways it almost seems like the appropriate kind of “looting” that would happen in New Paltz.

The police shut the town down and imposed a 7 pm curfew as the river was expected to crest to a height of 20 feet higher than normal later tonight.  Here are a few shots of the flooding.

Lower Town and Country Condos on Huguenot Street – this always floods, but this is the worst I’ve ever seen.  The river is on the other side of the trees off to the right.

Down by the bridge across the Walkill – you can see the pumpkins floating

Produce “looting” out of the Walkill

Looking down Plains Road

Pony Boy Curtis (Kevin’s new dog) made sure we stayed safe on our walk