Local and state officials are on alert as water levels in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River increase due to weeks of heavy rainfall across the Great Lakes. Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration reports Lake Ontario’s water level to be over 247 feet, with projections suggesting further rises.
However, levels have yet to reach the damaging flood stages witnessed in 2017 and 2019. To prepare for potential flooding, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services stand ready to provide support, including sandbags, pumps, and other flood mitigation resources to lakeshore communities.
The REDI initiative, which provides up to $300 million to bolster local economies and improve long-term resiliency, encompasses 134 flood-resiliency projects. These include upgrading storm sewers, improving flood-damaged roadways, and dredging critical waterways. Currently, these projects are at various stages of completion in multiple locations, including Sodus Point, Wolcott, and Huron.
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