City To Distribute Sandbags Until 11PM Ahead Of Expected Flooding

YONKERS, NY — Officials have extended the hours that sandbags are available ahead of expected flooding with the arrival of heavy rains associated with the remnants of Ida.

Due to the forecast heavy rains, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced on Wednesday that the Yonkers Department of Public Works (DPW) will extend its recycling center hours to provide sandbags for residents who live in low-lying areas. Homeowners can pick up sandbags until 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

The sandbag distribution point is located at 735 Saw Mill River Road.

“Due to the high amounts of rainfall expected today, I have had asked our DPW to make sand bags available to residents,” Spano said in a statement announcing the flood mitigation efforts. “As always, we pre-plan to make sure that our flood mitigation efforts are already being implemented by DPW crews in certain low lying areas, but we also want to ensure our residents take the necessary steps in protecting their homes and property.”

SEE ALSO:'Serious Situation' As Hudson Valley Rainfall Forecast Rises

The remnants of Ida, now a tropical depression, will dump several inches of rain on the Hudson Valley Wednesday and Thursday. Overnight, the National Weather Service increased its projections for total rainfall, and now 5-7 inches are predicted for parts of Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.

A flash flood watch is in effect through Thursday afternoon. The lower Hudson Valley could get 3-6 inches of rain, and rainfall rates could hit 1-2 inches an hour at times.

Residents with questions or concerns about flood mitigation are asked to contact the Mayor’s Help Line at (914) 377-HELP (4357).