2pm: At 1pm, the Walton Reporter announced on Facebook that its Walton offices were back up and running:
The Walton Reporter office in Walton is now open, with phones and electricity. No damage, we're relieved to say.
1pm: The state of emergency in Walton has been lifted, according to Delaware County Emergency Services:
Press Release
09/08/11~ 1230 hrs
The State of Emergency in the Village and Town of Walton has been rescinded as of 12:30 p.m. The river has crested and the water has begun to recede in the village. NYSEG will be back in the Village of Walton later this evening to turn on utilities to all the homes that were shut off earlier today.
12:15pm: Check out the many video reports from young Gideon Backus-Wildey on the flooding in Walton today. Gideon is an 8-year-old second grader at Townsend Elementary in Walton. But today, he was a meteorologist. Above, Gideon and his videographer step-father, Brian Foster, report on conditions at the Delaware County fairgrounds. Gideon also reports from the Riverside Church in Walton, from Bridge Street, and from other locations around town. Brian Foster, who maintains the YouTube channel fosterb100, has all the videos there.
11:30am: Photos of flooding in Walton. The McDonald's on Delaware St. today by Debra Soldan Wood via Facebook:
Austin Lincoln Park, by Debra Soldan Wood via Facebook:
In front of Breakey's Motors, by Debra Soldan Wood via Facebook:
The bridge by Napa Auto Parts, by Debra Soldan Wood via Facebook:
11:00am: The Walton Reporter reports that it cannot be reached by telephone in Walton because of flooding-related closures. (Note: This has been corrected. An earlier version of this post said that the Walton Reporter is "offline." Reporter staff are at work and reachable in Delhi.)
10:00am: Walton has declared a state of emergency due to flooding, according to NY-Alert. All roads are closed:
The Town & Village of Walton have declared a State of Emergency due to flooding. All roads closed at this time
Activation Time: 09/08/11 9:29 AM
Expiration Time: 09/08/11 9:28 PM
Issued By: Delaware County Emergency Management
Affected Jurisdictions: Delaware County: Walton (town), Walton (village)
Description:The Walton Town Supervisor, Bruce Dolph and the Walton Village Mayor, Patrick Meredith have declared a state of emergency for both the town and village of Walton. There is currently ongoing flooding in the village. All roads have been closed at this time. A shelter has been opened at the United Presbyterian Church at the corner of North and East Streets. Instructions: All roads are closed to traffic with the exception of emergency vehicles.
9am: Flooding is hitting Walton more this week than it did last week during the rains of Irene.
A state of emergency was declared for Walton this morning, according to NY-Alert, and residents are being urged to evacuate Delaware Street, Griswold Street, North Street from Delaware Street to Mead Street, Gardner Place, Townsend Street from Delaware Street to Mead Street, Liberty Street from Delaware Street to Mead Street, Mead Street from North Street to Shepard Street.
A shelter has opened at the United Presbyterian Church at the corner of North and East Streets.
The Delaware County Emergency Services just sent us updated info about Walton:
The West Branch at Walton is expected to crest mid morning at 14.7 feet which has already put water onto Delaware Street near Breakey Motors and McDonalds. Walton Village has begun evacuation notifications on several village streets. A shelter has been opened at the United Presbyterian Church at the corner of North and East Street in the Village. Some streets have water on them at this time and others are expected to see water on them this morning. The FD and NYSEG will be doing door to door notifications and all utility services will be shut off in the affected areas.
The Walton Reporter, which is tweeting and posting Facebook updates about the flooding, reported about 30 minutes ago that its Delaware Street offices are closed this morning, but that its news staffers are at work and reachable by phone and online.
We have a report from one of our employees that Delaware Street in Walton is closed. Some Walton Reporter business office functions may not be available today, but the news staff will be on duty and reachable by telephone and Internet.
At 8:20am, Watershed Post correspondent Leslie Kauffman posted a report on the Watershed Post live blog:
Just spoke to a business owner on Delaware Street in Walton. She said the bridge over the West Branch is still open, but there is flooding in front of Breakey's and on other low-lying parts of Delaware Street.
Here's the full text of the Walton evacuation alert from NY-Alert:
Headline: Walton residents urged to evacuate flooded areas of village
Activation Time: 09/08/11 7:22 AM
Expiration Time: 09/08/11 7:20 PM
Issued By: Delaware County Emergency Management
Affected Jurisdictions: Delaware County: Walton (town), Walton (village) Description: Walton Fire Department is urging residents to evacuate low lying areas of the Village - particularly on the following streets: Delaware Street, Griswold Street, North Street from Delaware Street to Mead Street, Gardner Place, Townsend Street from Delaware Street to Mead Street, Liberty Street from Delaware Street to Mead Street, Mead Street from North Street to Shepard Street The fire department will be going door to door to do notifications and NYSEG will be shutting off electric and gas service to all homes in the flooding areas. Utilities will be shut off even if residents don't evacuate. Instructions: Residents should evacuate their residences. A shelter will be opening shortly at the United Presbyterian Church at the corner of North and East Streets
What are you seeing out there? Email us reports and photos at editor@watershedpost.com, comment on this post below, weigh in on our Facebook page, tweet us on Twitter, post a photo to our Flickr group, or comment on our Live Blog.
