KINGSTON – Ulster County Executive Michael Hein Tuesday surveyed the damage in the county by helicopter. Joining him on his flight were County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum and county emergency management director Arthur Snyder.

“What I saw was, in some areas, limited damage; but in other areas, total devastation,” Hein observed.

“To date, the most important part is that we have no reports of fatalities.”

County Legislator Terry Bernardo stands in a giant hole below Boodle Hole Road in Accord

Up along the Route 28 corridor, bridges and roadways were completely washed out, Hein said. Frost Valley YMCA camp in Claryville was evacuated due to inaccessible roadways.

“As we worked our way around, we also saw some serious flooding in the Wawarsing and Rondout areas,” Hein added.

“Flying over New Paltz, as someone who is from New Paltz, I saw flooding that I haven’t seen in my entire life. The gravity and the severity of it are unbelievable when seen from above. Agriculture has been significantly impacted, Hein said.

SUNY Ulster will not be opening until September 6. “That is completely unprecedented,” Hein said.

“The next step will be identifying our infrastructure needs, how we can make sure that people can move safely around the county and lastly financial impacts.” Financial damage has not yet been determined. “Let there be no mistake, the people of Ulster County are incredibly resilient, and we will rebuild. Ulster County will be what it will always be: The best place anywhere to live.”

Central Hudson spokesman John Maserjian said that 35,000 outages remained as of Tuesday afternoon. Global restoration will be by Monday, September 4 around 11a.m. However, in remote areas, 10 percent may not have power for several days longer. “From this point onward, the progress will be a bit slower because of what we’re contending with. The distribution circuits that we’re working on now are heavily damaged,” said Maserjian. Roughly 100 poles and 600 sections of wire still need repair. “The conditions are such that it’s slow going.”

“We ask for people’s patience in this process, as we take on the largest natural disaster in Ulster County’s history,” Hein urged. “We’re going to commit whatever resources are available, to make sure that the people of Ulster County first say safe, and then return to normal.”