By Nathan Mayberg
WESTBROOKVILLE — October 11, 2005 – Approximately a dozen homes were flooded in Westbrookville by a recent heavy rainstorm blanketing the Northeast, which ran from Friday evening into the wee hours of Sunday.
The effects did not appear to approach in any way the destruction inflicted about one year ago but was worse than last April’s storm.
Town of Mamakating Supervisor Charles Penna said most of the flooding hit people’s basements, although one unoccupied house incurred structural damage. Butler’s Court, a local trailer park, received the brunt of the flooding.
On Monday, Penna called the damage “rough but soluble.” He estimated that the flooding would continue into the future unless the appropriate work was done on a nearby dam. Penna said the dam was built 30 years ago, which would make it different than the Yankee Lake Dam, which has been criticized by many local residents as being the cause of past flooding. That dam, they say, was also at the center of a major flood about 50 years ago. Penna said that the silt of the dam he is referring to has to be cleaned out.
Overall, the supervisor said the town was ready for any potential disaster. A rescue center was set up at the town hall but not used. The town highway department removed logs which could cause any jamming on the Pine Kill.
He said the town will act to prevent future flooding.
“We have to. We have no choice. Everybody is physically and emotionally exhausted,” he said.
Exactly what other work he intends to do is not clear yet. More rain was expected Wednesday.
Despite high waters on the property of Pete’s Auto Service Center on Route 209, owner Dino Vitiello said he was ready for any possibility. He sandbagged his store and was able to thwart any damage. He believed more work was needed along the banks of the Pine Kill to prevent more flooding.
Sam Manaul, manager of the Westbrookvile Deli, said the cooler on the back side of his business was damaged by water, as were several boxes of beer. Aside from that, the store dodged another bullet.