TROY, NY – The City of Troy needs the public's assistance to clear sewer grates of debris ahead of flash flood conditions being forecast by the National Weather Service.
According to the National Weather Service, "a high impact storm will affect the region today through Monday, bringing periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Numerous instances of Flash Flooding are expected during this time, with areal and river flooding also possible. Isolated Severe Thunderstorms may occur, with damaging wind gusts the main threat."
"Climate change is resulting in more extreme weather affecting our community, including severe heat and intensified storms," said Troy Mayor Wm. Patrick Madden. "As our city workforce works this weekend to prepare us for heavy rainfall, we need your help to ensure sewer grates and storm drains are clear of debris so they are best able to handle surging water and mitigate this threat to our community."
Mayor Madden recommends that anyone who has ever experienced water in their basement move items from the floor that could be damaged by water. This storm has the potential to flood areas that do not typically flood.
According to the National Weather Service, "Flash floods are exactly what the name suggests: floods that happen in a flash! Flash floods generally develop within 6 hours of the immediate cause. Causes of flash flooding include heavy rain, ice or debris jams, and levee or dam failure. These floods exhibit a rapid rise of water over low-lying areas. In some cases, flooding may even occur well away from where heavy rain initially fell. This is especially common in the western United States where low lying areas may be very dry one minute, and filled with rushing water from upstream the next.
"There are many reasons that flash floods occur, but one of the most common is the result of copious amounts of rainfall from thunderstorms that cause flash flooding. This can also occur when slow-moving or multiple thunderstorms move over the same area. These sudden downpours can rapidly change the water levels in a stream or creek and turn small waterways into violent, raging rivers. Urban areas are especially prone to flash floods due to the large amounts of concrete and asphalt surfaces that do not allow water to penetrate into the soil easily."
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