Evening star., 1936-03-19
NEW YORK FLOOD
DAMAGE IS HEAVY
Binghamton Hardest Hit,
With Water Shortage
Threatening City.
By the Associated Press

by tne associated PreSS.
BINGHAMTON, N. Y, March 10.
A serious drinking water shortage
today menaced this city of 10000, al
ready harassed by floods in two rivers
and prolonged rainstorm.
Although damage in upstate New
York was widespread, Binghamton ap-
peared hardest hit.
More than 140 1000 relief workers
were called into action in four Sec
tions of the State, where more than
1000 persons we're made temporarily
homeless in the last SO hours.
High water surrounded many hun.
dreds Of homes in the southern tier
Of counties, the lower Adirondacks
region and the Hudson and Mohawk
Valleys.
Guardsmen Held Ready.
National Guardsmen were held ready
for emergency duty Gov. Herbert
H. Lehman ordered State police and
highway workers to give all possible
assistance. The w. P A. marshaled
$4,000 workers for the relief task.
and local Red Cross chapters stepped
into the breach.
Washouts blocked highway traffic
and forced rerouting of several rail-
road lines.
There was no loss Of life, but It
was estimated that damage in the
States worst crisis since the july
floods Of 1885 would run into millions
of dollars.
officials said the food in Bingham-
ton had not been exceeded in the city's
history. Hundreds of persons were
forced to evacuate their homes and
took refuge in school houses, where the
Red Cross provided temporary beds.
High water Of the Susquehanna and
Chenango Rivers turned the main
business section into an island. Auto
mobile traffic tangled hopelessly.
Rain Increases Threat.
Renewal Of rains threatened to In.
crease the damage and both rivers
reached new high levels
David S. Dickinson, Broome County
Red Cross chairman, appealed for re-
lief funds. Previously, 500 beds trucked
from nearby C. c. C. camps at his
order were set up in four city schools
for those made homeless
w. P. A. officials opened Federal
supplies Of food and clothing to local
agencies. The order went out to "cut
all red tape"
Muddy waters of the Susquehanna
poured over river-front retaining
wall and into the city's pumping sta
ton. shutting off the water supply.
Suburban Endicotts water system also
was cut off.
Water covered cottages at Cannon
Hole to a depth Of Is feet after State
police ordered them vacated.
Flood waters were abating at Corn
ing and Elmira, but routes into Penn
sylvania were blocked. Both cities
were more seriously affected by a
sleetstorm, which tore down power
lines and crippled electric service.
Rivers Overflow Banks.
The Hudson River menaced the low
areas of Waterford. Troy and Albany.
The Mohawk overflowed into Herkimer
and Scotia.
Onondasa Greek crossed its dikes
at Syracuse, and drove so or 60 fami-
lies out of their homes in the Onon-
daga Valley section.
The inlet valley area of Ithaca. COM
prising some 10 or Is blocks, was
flooded during the night.
The western half of the State suf-
fered most from sleet. snow and cling
ing ice, which cut off scores of towns
and villages from the outside world.
Among towns which could not be
reached by telephone or telegraph for
many hours were Hornell. Ithaca, and
Is villages in Tompkins County.