The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) has released a new Flood Emergency Preparedness Guide to help residents better understand flood risks and take steps to protect themselves, their property and their communities.
Flooding is the most common natural disaster in New York state and a leading cause of weather-related fatalities each year, a press release from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County said. In the Catskills region, steep terrain and frequent precipitation can cause water levels to rise quickly, creating dangerous conditions in low-lying areas, along stream corridors, and near culverts and bridges, the release added.
The new guide was developed by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County to answer common questions about flooding and provide practical information that residents can use to prepare before an emergency happens.