Akwesasne Recovers from Historic Level Rains

The community of Akwesasne is recovering from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby past week. On the Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 6pm, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Office of Emergency Services (OEMS) declared a State of Emergency stating, "The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council, recognizing its responsibility for the health, safety, education, and welfare of all community members, has officially declared a Tribal State of Emergency due to the severe impacts of Tropical Storm Debby."

Multiple agencies within Akwesasne and surrounding communities rallied together to tackle the rising waters, flooded roads and lawns, and flooded basements. Debris of branches, loose boats, canoes and paddle boards and broken docks littered the swollen rivers.

Measurements of the rising waters were taken at a river gauge installed on McNeil Road, updating up to the minute data. This new gauge, installed in 2022, allows the SRMT OEMS provides real time information used to operational decisions. According to information provided to the community, from 8:00am Friday, August 9 to 2:00pm Saturday, August 10 the river rose approximately 11 feet at McNeil Road. By Sunday, the water dropped around 5 feet by Sunday morning.

HAVFD firefighters worked around the clock for two days, as did extra crews from surrounding communities to assist with evacuations, water rescues, flooded basements, and alarm activations. HAVFD members answered well over 50 calls including The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police worked double shifts along with local volunteer support crews.

Water Rescue Teams were mobilized following several rescues in Akwesasne and Fort Covington. Local fire departments worked with homes owners, code officers and National Grid to restore power over the past weekend.

To assist the aftermath of the flood, the Akwesasne Community Emergency Management Office urges all residents affected by the recent flooding to document any damages to their property as the evacuation order has now been lifted. This is a critical step in ensuring that our community members receive potential assistance.

What to do:

Take photographs or videos of all damages. Include wide shots for context and close-ups for detail.

Make a list of damaged or lost items, including their age, value, and any receipts if available.

Report your damages to the local authorities as soon as possible.

Why its important: documenting damages is essential for:

Assistance eligibility: Accurate records are necessary for disaster relief and insurance claims.

Community recovery: Helps authorities understand the extent of damages to allocate resources effectively.

How to share your information:

OEMS will be reaching out in the coming days to collect any information saved.