Livingston Manor - Flood of 2004


September 18, 2004 -  It looks like today is the day that the "New Manor" will meet the "Old Manor". With the Manor being pelted with the remnants of Ivan, the rivers have escaped from the confines of their banks and are now creating havoc throughout the town. 
At five o'clock this morning, the Little Beaverkill started its flow across Pearl Street.
By seven, Main Street and Pleasant Street became inundated and closed to traffic. 
With the rain still coming and with the immediate forecast calling for more, we may be in for a major soaker.


The Firemen at work pumping cellars in Youngsville


Lee surveying his "lawn"


More of Youngsville


Livingston Manor - the bridge over the Little Beaverkill - as far as you can go

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A look down Main street (and a new tree in the middle of town)


A look at the Sunoco Gas Station with water at about 4 feet


A look down Pearl Street


The angry Little Beaverkill from the bridge behind the Hoos building



3 sump pumps, a gas pump and a firehouse portable pump fight a losing battle at Ellmauers in Youngsville
(That's the door knob under the water)

This storm may also cause much road damage. The Shandelee Road, about where the county highway barn is, is starting to wash away at one spot, with the Cattail Brook looking menacing all along the rest of that stretch. The last flood to damage this section of road was in 1938. 

LEllmauer: 
You know that expresion "YOU CANT GET THERE FROM HERE" well its so Manor square is under water the fire hydrent by the corner of main and pearl only the top of the cap showed.... The Little Beaverkill was up on the cement under Odies probabley 6 or more inches then we went down Creamery road toward Hazel the road was washed but passable. We could see the river and it was way over the banks.... We got to old 17 and headed ffor deckertown. Almost there and the creek was flowing across the road the one that comes down off the hill ...We turned around and Lee said that he wanted to try Roscoe and get on the quickway to go to Manor and up the De Bruce rd Ha Main street was flooded I said that if Manor was flooded that Roscoe would be also ... Well we turned around and came home.. 
LEllmauer: There was a message from Adam Linco he said that he had been down on the flat the water overflowed the banks and was running down the low spots..He said that he didnt know if it got in the old trailor but mine he thought was ok yet.. The water was going through the garage towards the river and the other one had a puddle in it and the planks fro the bridge were gone he thought that he could see them behind his house but his boots werent high enough
LEllmauer: We will probably wait until Justin gets back and goes home before we go over.... Catch you later...Bye

 

Fred:
By five o'clock this evening, the flood waters of the Little Beaverkill were finally receding from Pearl Street leaving behind its notorious signature, mud. As of now, the fireman are pumping out basements of residents and businesses throughout the town. For some, it may be a cool damp night, for electricity was disconnected to those buildings effected, plus many oil burners were under water, now in need of servicing.

Though our floods are not as devastating as Mississippi River floods or those from hurricanes such as Ivan, those who live through our local floods would not know the difference. The cleaning up process is the same; scrape and mop out the mud and then, somehow, get the dampness out. It is no easy chore and just as heartbreaking to see your possessions washed away or destroyed by the rampage of water.

Though local news reports claimed the height of the water on Main Street to be at five feet, it was probably only at less than four, but still plenty high enough to reach into buildings. The Adler building (now the art gallery) and the stone building next door were hit hard. As was the restaurant down the street. The Sturdevant building (WeeGees) took a direct hit from something floating down the Willowemoc, forcing out the residents whom will not be allowed back into their homes until the town's building inspector gives his approval. Across the street, it appears that the Brooks building and the Siegel building also had mud laden waters upon their floors. The Country Store probably had the highest level of water that had gotten inside. All needed to have their basements pumped out.  Pearl Street buildings received the same harsh treatment. But the most serious damage seems to have happened on Mott's Flats with  several residences, where the creosote plant was located, having water come up several feet into their homes. These are the same homes that were hit hard in the 2000 flood. Horses that were on the old Mott place, had to climb the steep embankment of Route 17 to escape the rising waters. They were rescued and taken up onto the four-lane and walked back into town.

The Cattail Brook was no less gentle, with much errosion along it's banks. A short section of Shandelee Road, by the bridge crossing the Cattail over to the Merrit Simpson house, was damaged. The Simpson garage was undermined, a portion of it's foundation washed away, and the floor caving into the river with all the garage's contents swept downstream, antiques and priceless photographs now gone.

Evelyn, how did you make out?