Flooding Closes Roads, Forces Evacuations in Cortland County

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say several roads are closed by flooding or downed trees and scores of people have been evacuated from their central New York homes as severe thunderstorms roll across the region.

The worst damage is in Cortland County south of Syracuse, where the sheriff's office is advising no unnecessary travel. The road closures in the county Friday morning include routes 11 and 38, while Route 237 in neighboring Tompkins County is closed by storm damage.

Powerful thunderstorms brought torrential rain to areas of central and eastern New York beginning on Thursday and lasting into Friday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for a 14-county area stretching from the western Mohawk Valley to the New England border.

The evacuees include 70 residents of an assisted-living facility in Cortland.