New York prepares for heavy rain from Florence remnants

New York state’s Division of Homeland Security and Office of Emergency Management are activating to monitor the impacts of the remnants of Hurricane Florence as it moves into the state.

Widespread heavy rain is expected through Tuesday in the southern half of the state, especially central New York, the Southern Tier, Capital Region and Mid-Hudson Valley. The Division of Homeland Security has sent swift water urban search and rescue teams to staging areas in Binghamton, Guilderland in the Capital Region and Montour Falls in the Finger Lakes.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the Department of Transportation is also setting up staging areas in Binghamton, Oneonta and Cairo in anticipation of the need for storm response.

A 40-mile stretch of the Erie Canal between Fort Plain and Scotia has been temporarily closed.