NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y. — UPDATE: The travel ban in Niagara County was lifted at 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 21. Officials warn that roadways may still be flooded, and ask that drivers use caution while traveling.
The State of Emergency remains in effect in Niagara County as clean up efforts begin.
Parts of Western New York experienced significant rainfall Tuesday evening. One of the hardest hit areas was Niagara County.
Niagara County officials declared a State of Emergency as of 7 p.m. Tuesday. Chairman of the Legislature Rebecca Wydysh, Director of Emergency Management Jonathan Schultz and Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti also issued the travel ban for the entire county.
Significant flooding was reported in Lockport, resulting in several road closures.
Throughout the evening Tuesday, 2 On Your Side crews saw several cars stuck on flooded roadways.
Bill Anterline of Lockport said Saturday was bad with flooding, but Tuesday night was the worst he’s ever seen it.
“Right now my toilet's overflowing into my basement," Anterline said. "My sump pump is overflowing into my basement and I got one little pump trying to pump it out of my house. I’m in trouble. Everything’s wet. Everything’s soaked."
Anterline said it only took about 20 minutes for the flooding to occur.
His concern now is that another storm will come through and this will happen all over again.
2 On Your Side spoke to Mayor Michelle Roman with the City of Lockport Tuesday evening. She said no system could have handled this amount of rain especially since the ground was already saturated.
She also said crews are out working to get the situation under control and urged residents to avoid driving through standing water.
There are still road closures across the county. As of 1 a.m. Wednesday, Route 265 was closed in both directions from Route 182 to Lockport Road. Route 425 is also closed in both directions between Lower Mountain Road and Upper Mountain Road.
Tuscarora Road, between Niagara Falls Boulevard and Porter Road in the Town of Niagara, is closed as well. The Niagara County Sheriff's Office says it will be closed until Thursday due to flooding.
Route 31 has reopened in both directions at the I-190.
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