The historic flood emergency that hit Ontario County on Sunday, primarily impacting the City and Town of Canandaigua, on Sunday, July 9 will take time to fully assess. That was the message from state, city, county, and town leaders in an update on Tuesday, as they work with non-profit partners, churches, and businesses to continue responding to the devastation.
One of the major achievements of these joint efforts has been the restoration of power in the City of Canandaigua. This was accomplished thanks to the diligence of damage assessment teams and RG&E crews on the ground. Unfortunately, around 60 homes required removal of their electric meters due to flood damage, officials said. These residents have been instructed to contact RG&E or visit their website for guidance on addressing these issues and restoring their power.
Despite the severity of the flooding, there are currently no permanent road closures in either the City of Canandaigua or Ontario County. Most of the damage inflicted on the transportation network during the flood event has been addressed or is in the process of being resolved.
However, residents are advised to anticipate periodic lane or road closures as repair and clean-up crews continue their work. Authorities have called for motorists to exercise caution around work zones and for residents to avoid affected areas of the City of Canandaigua as cleanup operations proceed.
Ontario County, in cooperation with the City of Canandaigua, is working to manage the urgent removal of debris and damaged items from affected homes. Residents are encouraged to stay updated via the City’s website and social media pages for information on debris and waste removal. For those in need of assistance due to the flooding, they can reach out to the Ontario County Dispatch non-emergency number. Urgent emergencies should be directed to 911, while those needing mental health services can call 988.
Hochul visits Ontario County after flash flooding causes catastrophic damage
Following widespread flooding in Ontario County, numerous beaches around Canandaigua Lake’s northern and eastern ends remain shut due to concerns about debris and potential pollutants. Governor Kathy Hochul visited Canandaigua on Monday, acknowledging the extensive damage to structures in the area and thanking first responders for their effort.
Ontario County Administrator, Chris DeBolt, confirmed the closure of multiple beaches in a press conference held Monday morning. “The City of Canandaigua has closed Kershaw Beach to public swimming today,” DeBolt stated. “The county-operated deep run park on the east side of the lake is also closed to public swimming. The town of Canandaigua beaches at Onanda and Butler remain open.”
DeBolt assured that the beaches would not reopen until water quality tests were completed, adding that they were coordinating with relevant entities for this process. “We’re conducting water sampling right now to make sure that all the appropriate levels are safe for the beaches to continue in operation and to see when we can reopen the closed beaches. We will keep the public notified when we get the results of that testing,” DeBolt stated.
The Ontario County Sheriff’s Department is currently assisting with the removal of debris from the lake. In a recent statement, Sheriff David Cirencione indicated that there was no current speed limit for boaters on Canandaigua Lake. Cirencione advised boaters to exercise caution due to the potential emergence of more debris in the lake.
The conference also addressed the broader effects of the recent flooding, including compromised structures and displaced residents. Governor Hochul commended the coordination between state, county, and local levels during the crisis, confirming that she is liaising with FEMA, Senator Chuck Schumer, and the White House to secure disaster assistance. She assured that the state is assessing the damage, and an allocation will be provided to the county upon receipt generation.
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