Latest news with #DivisionofHomelandSecurityandEmergencyServices
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NY declares state of emergency as flooding, power outages and dangerous heat wave hit
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency across 32 counties in New York as the state faces a one-two punch of severe weather and a dangerous heatwave. Early Sunday, a line of intense thunderstorms swept across parts of the North Country, Central New York, the Southern Tier and the Capital Region. The storms brought damaging winds, torrential rain, flash flooding, downed trees, a deadly tornado and widespread power outages. Rainfall rates reached up to two inches per hour, with additional totals of 2 to 4 inches expected in areas already saturated. Flash flooding remains a serious threat in parts of Central New York, the Southern Tier, and the Mid-Hudson region, particularly from Broome to Ulster and Sullivan counties. As of midday Sunday, approximately 50,000 customers were without power statewide. Simultaneously, a multi-day heatwave is underway. Feels-like temperatures are expected to reach between 90 and 105 degrees through Tuesday across much of the state. 'Our hearts break for the tragic loss of life during last night's storms,' Hochul said. 'We are coordinating closely with local officials and have state emergency crews already on the ground.' In response, the State Emergency Operations Center has been activated. State agencies, including the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, are deploying resources such as light towers, pumps, generators and water rescue teams to impacted areas. Residents are urged to remain alert, avoid flooded roadways, limit outdoor activities during peak heat and sign up for local emergency alerts by texting their county or borough name to . Counties under the State of Emergency include: Albany, Bronx, Broome, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Kings, Madison, Nassau, New York, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Suffolk, Tioga, Ulster, Warren, Washington and Westchester. The most intense heat is expected to peak on Monday, with temperatures and humidity combining for as high as 110°F in some areas and closer to 105°F in other parts of the Empire State, according to the National Weather Service. Conditions will remain hot on Tuesday, with highs still in the 90s and the heat index predicted to surpass 100 in some parts of the Southern Tier and Central New York, but temperatures are expected to cool down starting Wednesday. Much of New York is under a heat advisory through Tuesday evening, according to the Weather Service. Several Southern Tier and Central New York counties are under an extreme heat warning through Monday evening. In those spots - including Onondaga, Schuyler, Chemung, Tompkins, Tioga and Broome counties - "dangerously hot conditions" are predicted Monday, with heat index predicted to reach up to 110. In Rochester, the high reached 90 degrees on Sunday, which marked the warmest day of 2025 to date, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. It also reached 90 degrees in Poughkeepsie, 88 degrees in Syracuse as well as Central Park in New York City, 84 degrees in Albany and 82 degrees in Buffalo, according to Weather Service data. It reached 91 degrees at JFK International Airport in Queens and in Islip, Suffolk County, on Long Island. The high in parts of western New York is predicted to reach the mid-90s Sunday By midweek, many areas could see a return to more typical summer temperatures in the low to mid-80s, according to forecasters. Extended periods of high heat and humidity can cause heat-related illnesses, particularly for: Young children Older adults People with chronic health conditions Those without access to air conditioning Stay hydrated and indoors where it's air-conditioned. Avoid peak heat hours by scheduling outdoor activities for early morning or evening. Never leave children or pets in vehicles, even briefly. Check on neighbors and family, especially those without cooling. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, including confusion, dizziness, or rapid pulse. Call 911 immediately if symptoms appear. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY state of emergency: Flooding, power outages, and heat wave hit
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Watertown hasn't had precipitation-free weekend since last year
May 23—WATERTOWN — Rainy weekends have been a real phenomenon that north country residents have been feeling for months on end. That's according to the latest data from the State Weather Risk Communication Center at the University of Albany, published on Facebook by the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. In fact, according to the data from SWRCC, the last time the Watertown area had a weekend without any precipitation was Dec. 14 and 15, 2024, a graphic shows. Phillip Pandolfo, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo, said the north country has been stuck in a cold, dreary pattern because of low pressure systems, which can be common in the spring. "They tend to stick around wherever they set up," he said. This current low pressure system came from the Midwest, Pandolfo said, and settled over Lake Ontario, bringing rain and cold to the north country throughout the week. "These types of weather systems are very normal in spring," he said. Memorial Day weekend is looking to be another rainy, cold end of the week before the weather starts to take a turn on Sunday with highs expected to be close to 60 degrees with a "lower end chance" of rain, according to Pandolfo. Memorial Day itself seems to be the best chance for a nice day as there is less than a 20% chance of rain with temperatures in the mid-60s, Pandolfo said. Another low pressure system is set to make its way into the north country again as the week progresses, but there is "a lot more uncertainty" about that system, Pandolfo said.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
National Guard helps battle wind-fueled wildfires burning on New York's Long Island
Firefighters on New York's Long Island were battling a wind-driven brush fire in the Pine Barrens on Sunday, hours after Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and said authorities were determined to avoid the type of devastation that swept across Southern California two months ago. The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services warned Sunday that wind gusts of up to 40 mph were likely, complicating efforts to douse the flames. "Fire activity is ongoing in Suffolk County," the agency said in a social media post. "There is an elevated wildfire risk in several areas due to dry, windy conditions." Hochul said late Saturday that she had spoken with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and offered any necessary state resources. She said National Guard helicopters were providing air support and that "multiple state agencies are on the ground." Romaine, speaking at a briefing late Saturday, said county Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services were coordinating the response from about 80 agencies since at least four brush fires ignited Saturday on the East End area of Long Island. All but one fire was extinguished, and the lingering blaze near the town of Westhampton was 80% contained, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said in a Facebook post. 'We maximized our firefighting capabilities to stop the fire from spreading, then we tried to contain it,' Romaine said. 'But it is not under control as I speak.' Romaine told News 12 that an arson investigation was underway. Romaine said the fire marshal and arson squad are checking cameras in the area, including drones and investigating evidence trying to determine whether the fires were intentionally set. Palisades, Eaton fires 100% contained: California blazes finally extinguished At least one area highway was partially shut down because of the fire. No evacuations had been ordered, but Romaine said that could change if wind gusts fuel an epansion of the blaze. One firefighter suffered burns to his face; no other injuries had been reported. At least two buildings were damaged. "We are working with the town of Southampton closely and multiple police agencies," Romaine said. Hochul told CNN the fires are burning in a nature preserve, but that firefighters feared winds could drive the fire toward populated areas. She said authorities were acutely aware of the destruction cause by the California wildfires that swept through Pacific Palisades and Altadena, killing at least 29, burning almost 60 square miles, and destroying thousands of homes. 'All those images of what happened in the Palisades are so front and center in our minds,' the governor said, recalling the deadly wildfires that devastated California this year. 'We need to be proactive, preventative and try to stop the worst from occurring with all the power that we have and that's exactly what we're doing.' Suffolk County covers much of central and eastern Long Island, the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens are on the eastern end, separated from Suffolk County by Nassau County. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National Guard helps battle wildfires burning on Long Island
USA Today
09-03-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
National Guard helps battle wind-fueled wildfires burning on New York's Long Island
Hear this story Firefighters on New York's Long Island were battling a wind-driven brush fire in the Pine Barrens on Sunday, hours after Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and said authorities were determined to avoid the type of devastation that swept across Southern California two months ago. The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services warned Sunday that wind gusts of up to 40 mph were likely, complicating efforts to douse the flames. "Fire activity is ongoing in Suffolk County," the agency said in a social media post. "There is an elevated wildfire risk in several areas due to dry, windy conditions." Hochul said late Saturday that she had spoken with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and offered any necessary state resources. She said National Guard helicopters were providing air support and that "multiple state agencies are on the ground." At least four fires ignited Saturday Romaine, speaking at a briefing late Saturday, said county Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services were coordinating the response from about 80 agencies since at least four brush fires ignited Saturday on the East End area of Long Island. All but one fire was extinguished, and the lingering blaze near the town of Westhampton was 80% contained, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said in a Facebook post. 'We maximized our firefighting capabilities to stop the fire from spreading, then we tried to contain it,' Romaine said. 'But it is not under control as I speak.' Romaine told News 12 that an arson investigation was underway. Romaine said the fire marshal and arson squad are checking cameras in the area, including drones and investigating evidence trying to determine whether the fires were intentionally set. Palisades, Eaton fires 100% contained: California blazes finally extinguished No evacuations have been ordered as of yet At least one area highway was partially shut down because of the fire. No evacuations had been ordered, but Romaine said that could change if wind gusts fuel an epansion of the blaze. One firefighter suffered burns to his face; no other injuries had been reported. At least two buildings were damaged. "We are working with the town of Southampton closely and multiple police agencies," Romaine said. Hochul told CNN the fires are burning in a nature preserve, but that firefighters feared winds could drive the fire toward populated areas. She said authorities were acutely aware of the destruction cause by the California wildfires that swept through Pacific Palisades and Altadena, killing at least 29, burning almost 60 square miles, and destroying thousands of homes. 'All those images of what happened in the Palisades are so front and center in our minds,' the governor said, recalling the deadly wildfires that devastated California this year. 'We need to be proactive, preventative and try to stop the worst from occurring with all the power that we have and that's exactly what we're doing.' Suffolk County covers much of central and eastern Long Island, the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens are on the eastern end, separated from Suffolk County by Nassau County.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NY prison strikes: State gives final offer with deadline to return or be fired
A labor standoff that has roiled New York's prison system for more than two weeks reached a critical point on Friday, March 7, with striking correction officers ordered to return to work that day or they would be fired. State officials had made public on Thursday night the terms of their latest offer to workers, with a sharp deadline attached. They promised in a video address that the state wouldn't penalize those who took part in an illegal strike as long as they showed up for the morning or evening shift on Friday. Those who failed to return would be subject to termination. How that ultimatum played out was not immediately clear. State officials declined to say on Friday afternoon how many workers failed to show up for the morning shift, and the union representing New York's 13,500 correction officers and sergeants said it didn't know how many members had returned to work and how many balked at the deal. The strike began at two prisons on Feb. 17 and spread to many of the 40 other facilities in New York, forcing Gov. Kathy Hochul to deploy several thousand National Guard members to take the place of absent correction officers. Workers later returned to their jobs at some sites, but those at 32 prisons were still on picket lines at the beginning of this week. Correction officers were protesting forced overtime, understaffing and what they say are unsafe work conditions. They're also demonstrating their continued opposition to a 2021 law that restricted the use of long-term solitary confinement as a disciplinary action. In Thursday night's video address, the head of the prison system laid out terms the state was offering based on his direct discussions with prison workers after talks with their union failed to end the strike. They included ending 12-hour shifts and returning to eight-hour shifts as soon as the strike ended and prisons returned to normal. The state also agreed to continue suspending the HALT Act — the solitary confinement law — for 90 days and set up a committee to improve prison safety. "I'm here to say that I heard my workforce," said Daniel Martuscello III, commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. "I want to support them, and continue to support them and continue to work with them on the safety issues that they've raised while out on the line. I want to end this illegal strike. We need to get back to some form of normalcy." Martuscello was joined by another commissioner who delivered the stern message that accompanied the state's offer, which she said applies only to those who returned to work on Friday. For all others, the state would file civil contempt charges, refer their names to the attorney general, and pursue terminations. "This deal will not be offered again," said Jackie Bray, commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. "We want you back, we need you back," Bray said. "You need to come back to work tomorrow." Sing Sing: Corrections officers, state negotiate after pickets outside Sing Sing, other prisons The strike violates a 57-year-old state law that prohibits most public employees from walking off the job over labor disputes. The prison workers took that action on their own, without the blessing of their union, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA.) Earlier in the strike, state officials and NYSCOPBA leaders negotiated a potential resolution to the strike with the aid of a mediator, but most workers rejected it and stayed on the picket lines. The terms of that agreement were similar to those the state put to workers on Thursday. In a statement to its members on Thursday, NYSCOPBA leaders said they refused to sign the new proposal, in spite of pressure from Hochul's administration, even though it was similar to the consent award the had negotiated in mediation. They said new version was "stripped of any assurances that it will be legally binding in the future" and was presented with too little time to review it. "Do not mistake our intentions or motivation," they wrote. "We want to reach an agreement that gets our members back to work as soon as possible, but we cannot allow our desire for a quick result to jeopardize our ability to obtain a fair agreement that adequately safeguards our members' health and physical well-being and ensures their ability to reclaim a work-life balance in the immediate future." Chris McKenna covers government and politics and The Journal News and USA Today Network. Reach him at cmckenna@ This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY prison strike: Workers ordered return to work March 7 or be fired
