1 of 4 | Amtrak service between New York City and Albany is shut down indefinitely due to flood damage to the Metro-North tracks in the Hudson Valley after a series of storms brought heavy rain and flash floods. Photo courtesy of Metro-North Railroad
July 10 (UPI) -- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott have declared states of emergencies as a series of thunderstorms inundated both states Monday with heavy rainfall and flash floods that killed one person.
The National Weather Service for New York issued several flash flood warnings throughout the state, with a whole swath of the northeastern United States from northern Vermont and Pennsylvania to southern Rhode island under flood watches Monday, with more rain to come.
Amtrak service between New York City and Albany was shut down indefinitely due to flood damage to the Metro-North tracks in the Hudson Valley.
"Yesterday's storms, with heavy rain and flash flooding, washed out tracks along the Hudson Line north of Croton-Harmon and on the Wassaic Branch," Metro-North Railroad tweeted Monday.
"Our crews are continuing to evaluate the damage and are working to clear the tracks."
Amtrak is instructing travelers to follow @AmtrakAlerts on Twitter for the latest information.
Police also warned that "numerous roadways," including State Route 9 West and Palisades Interstate Parkway, were under water.
Late Sunday, New York State Police urged motorists to "avoid the Palisades Parkway, Long Mountain Circle, the Bear Mountain Bridge and Route 6 due to major flooding!"
In Orange County, executive Steve Neuhaus issued a state of emergency and activated the county's Emergency Operation Center. Officials have received "numerous reports regarding extensive flooding occurring in and around Orange County," its emergency management office said in a statement.
Neuhaus confirmed to The New York Times that one resident has died. A 35-year-old woman was killed Sunday after being swept away in a flash flood outside of her home.
Hochul had issued a state of emergency for Orange County but then expanded it to Ontario County late Sunday "due to significant flooding over the past two hours," she said, adding the move mobilizes additional state resources.
Swift Water Rescue Teams also have been deployed to Ontario County to conduct door-to-door welfare checks, her office said.
The NWS is warning that there is "a considerable flood threat with a high risk of excessive rainfall" for much of New England on Monday as the band of storm moves east.
Vermont's governor called the flooding, which has washed away roads and cut off communities in that state, worse than during Tropical Storm Irene.
"This is an all hands on deck response," Scott told reporters Monday, as he issued a state of emergency.
"We have not seen rainfall like this since Irene, and in some places, it will surpass even that," Scott said.
"This is going on we're getting just as much rain if not more, and it's going on for days. That's my concern; it's not just the initial damage, it's the wave, the second wave and the third wave."
The National Weather Service also issued a flood watch through 8 a.m. Tuesday for parts of New Hampshire, where heavy rains and flooding have washed out roads. About 150 guests at Pilgrim Pines Camp and Retreat Center on Swanzey Lake had to be evacuated as the storms are forecast to continue into Tuesday.
"Numerous flash flooding events are likely today, some of which may become significant and pose a severe threat to life and property," the National Weather Service tweeted Monday.
"The greatest risk is across interior New Hampshire and western Maine. Please stay alert for possible warnings and never drive through flood waters!"
