Two missing after Northeast floods

FORT PLAIN, N.Y. – Two people were missing after heavy rains inundated the Northeast and led to severe flooding in some areas, officials said Saturday.

A woman in upstate New York’s Mohawk Valley is missing after her mobile home was washed away by rising waters Friday in Fort Plain, police Chief Robert Thomas said. Officials identified her as Ethel Healey.

In Pennsylvania, officials said an unnamed 86-year-old Clinton County man was swept into a rain-swollen creek Thursday while trying to retrieve an ATV.

Clinton County Director of Emergency Services Kevin Fanning said 18 homes had been damaged by flooding after one part of the county received about 7 inches of rain in an hour Thursday night. The flooding damaged more than 30 miles of roads – not including some state routes repaired immediately – but they remained passable.

“Travel at your own risk,” he warned.

In upstate New York, the storms caused the Mohawk River and other waterways to overflow. At Little Falls, the river reached more than 3 feet above flood stage late Friday morning before receding, the National Weather Service said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo toured areas damaged by flooding Saturday and said a disaster declaration would remain in effect.

“It’s traumatic to say the least to see your whole life turned upside down literally in a matter of minutes,” he said.