Drinking water is Gowanda's top concern

GOWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - Erie, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties remain under a State of Emergency Tuesday night. Now victims of the August storms are trying to piece their lives back together.

Emergency crews are going door to door to check on residents. Neighbors are helping neighbors, but it's going to take some major help from the government to get Gowanda back on it's feet.

In the hardest hit neighborhoods of Gowanda, homes were ripped apart by 80 and 90 mile an hour winds, and relentless torrential rain. Roads buckled and were torn apart, as a wall of water cascaded down Main Street. The challenge of cleaning and fixing up under a blanket of mud and debris is immense; big enough to require a State of Emergency.

Erie County Executive Chris Collins said, "And so by declaring a State of Emergency at the county and state level, we do now qualify for federal FEMA assistance."

As the Erie County Sheriff's helicopter hovered over Gowanda for a big picture view, the county executive was walking through the devastation.

The residents of a house on St. John Street were inside when part of the foundation washed away, and the basement caved in.

Homeowner Trina Kleever said, "My mother was actually sleeping upstairs and I just ran upstairs and said got to get out, got to get out."

Collins said, "So obviously the home isn't safe to be in?"

Kleever said, "Not right now, not right now."

Inmates from the Collins Correctional Facility are helping with the clean up, but water is the number one concern. Emergency supplies have been brought in because the village reservoir has been turned into a giant mud pit.

Gowanda Mayor Dick Klancer said, "We have about a million and a half gallons in a storage tank that will last us maybe three days. Our reservoir is down probably for a year or longer."

While the recovery may require state and federal assistance, nothing can bring back the two lives that were lost. Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard showed News 4 where 80-year-old Theodore Stitzel was suddenly thrust to his death, right outside of his home.

Sheriff Howard said, "Unexpectedly, the ground let loose below him. He was actually trapped up against the concrete and the rushing water and was drowned and was recovered right here."

Everyone there is hoping the Feds, FEMA, will lend a helping hand, now that a State of Emergency is in effect.

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It's a case of water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink in several Southern Tier communities.

Gowanda residents are among those advised to boil all drinking water, and authorities are trying to keep children out of the contaminated waters that still flood yards.

The flooding claimed two lives in Gowanda.

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A State of Emergency is in effect for Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus County.

The declaration frees up federal resources to begin the massive cleanup and recovery effort.

The top concern in Gowanda is drinking water.

The storm contaminated the village reservoir with mud and other debris.

Clean water is getting trucked in for residents who otherwise have to boil all water.