Schoharie County Irene update

NYS Assemblyman Peter Lopez breaks down about his Schoharie-County-based family losing everything. while talking to reporter Terry Doyle today. Listen here.

Facebook resource for Schoharie County photos.

6pm Monday, 8/29/11: Photographic proof that the old Blenheim covered bridge -- known to be the longest span of its kind in the world -- was washed away yesterday. Scanner reports yesterday said that the roof of the bridge was swept off  -- looks like the rest of it has as well. Photo by Angela Maxwell, via Facebook:

 

More photos are appearing on the Schoharie County Emergency Services Facebook Album.

The Mill Valley Road bridge, probably in Middleburgh? (Can readers identify in which town?):

Mill Valley Road Bridge

Bridge Street Bridge in the Village of Schoharie:

Jessica Slater posted photos of the bridge in Esperance:

The remains of the Turtle Rock Cafe in Middleburgh, by Betty Pillsbury via Facebook:

YNN drove into the village of Schoharie and filed a detailed report estimating that "perhaps hundreds of homes that have been damaged:"

Schoharie's Town Supervisor Martin Shrederis is assessing the damage.

People who have lived there since the 1950s say they've seen bad flooding, but never this bad.

National Guard members helped people recover Monday. Luckily, no deaths have been reported in the town, but many farms lost animals and crops. Properties are still flooded and the inside of some homes completely wrecked.

Officials are now planning their next move.

"The people need to know, what do we do with our debris. Where do we meet to find out what we need to know about FEMA. The governor's been here this morning, I didn't get a chance to see him. The whole valley is in devastation. We just need to find out what our next step is as we move forward," said Shrederis.

Schoharie County Emergency Management reported this afternoon that "conditions are improving" in a press release posted on NY-Alert:

SCHOHARIE COUNTY  PRESS RELEASE
August 29, 2011
 
Schoharie County Emergency Management and Chairman Harold Vroman would like to dispel rumors that there has been any failure of the Gilboa Dam.
 
NYCDEP and Schoharie County Office of Emergency Services have been in contact and reports received are that conditions are improving.
 
If you have questions or concerns please call 234-3411 for non-emergencies.  

Harold L. Vroman, Chairman
Schoharie County Board of Supervisors

Sunday 8/28/11: View of Schoharie Valley from Vroman's Nose today, below. Credit for pic goes to Amy Colyer Fogerty. Via Facebook. For more info about Catskills flooding, visit our Hurricane Irene Catskills live blog.