WIVB TV4 Buffalo,Niagara Falls, NY - News & Weather - Video on Demand - Water Rescuers Ready to Help in Flooded Central & Eastern NY
(June 28, 2006) - - The New York State Thruway all the way from Syracuse to Albany is closed due to the devastating and deadly flooding hitting the northeast. As News 4’s Jodi Hovenden reports, with states of emergency in effect, Western New Yorkers may soon be on their way to help out.

It’s some of the worst flooding the Binghamton area has seen in years.

Two truckers lost their lives Wednesday morning when a highway flooded.

Houses are under water, one was seen floating down the Susquehanna River, and hundreds of residents have been evacuated from their homes.

Ryan Graves of the West Seneca water rescue team said, “You’re anxious to go. You want to get down there, and you want to help.”

And Ryan Graves is ready to help. He’s one of about a dozen members from both the West Seneca and Alden water rescue teams who are on standby, ready to head to the flooded areas.

These volunteers are trained for situations like this, and are ready to rescue residents in what are often fast-moving waters.

We have had some rain in the Erie county area but other sections of the state are a mess. Prayers for your safety if you are in one of the hard hit areas.

I will be traveling to Massachusetts this weekend, I hope the thruway is open and not flooded out.