Flooding peaks along St. Regis River; state of emergency still in place

In this Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 photo, provided by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, a section of Gray Street is washed out due to severe flooding along the St. Regis River in Akwesasne, N.Y. Officials say the water levels on the river have peaked and should be subsiding late Saturday into Sunday. (Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe via Newswatch Group)

AKWESASNE, N.Y. – The water level along the flooding St. Regis River has peaked and is expected to drop today and tomorrow (Sunday).

That’s according to an update at 11 a.m. this morning (Saturday) from an emergency management team, comprised of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Emergency Planning Office, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, the Hogansburg-Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department and supported by county and state agencies.

The Unified Incident Command Post says the water level has “remained stable” overnight and is “projected that water flows will decline” today and tomorrow, with a slight increase Sunday night with 0.5 inches of rain expected.

A state of emergency, issued Friday, remains in effect.

Flooding along the St. Regis River has been caused by ice jams, coupled with rain and snow melt.

A number of streets remain closed, including portions of Church Street, Gray Street and North Road. Meanwhile, Mill Street, Pearl Street, Solomon Road, State Route 37, the Hogansburg Bridge and St. Regis Road were reopened this morning.

The flooding has displaced 96 residents, who are holed up in nearby hotels until emergency officials can assess any damage to their homes.