CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND SHERIFF ISSUE JOINT TRAVEL ADVISORY
Certain Lake Erie Shoreline Residents Under Mandatory Evacuation
MAYVILLE, N.Y.:-- Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel and Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone have issued a joint travel advisory for all of Chautauqua County until further notice. In addition, certain Lake Erie shoreline residents are under a mandatory evacuation order.
“This winter storm with blizzard conditions combined with lakeshore flooding creates an exceptionally dangerous situation for many of our residents,” said Quattrone. “If residents must travel, we urge them to please use extreme caution.”
A local state of emergency has also been declared for all portions of the Chautauqua County north of Route 5. As part of the local emergency declaration, there is a mandatory evacuation in place in the Towns of Hanover and Sheridan for the entire areas of Hanford Bay and Sunset Bay. This would include all lakefront areas north of the railroad tracks. Within the Village of Silver Creek, a mandatory evacuation is in effect for properties along the Lake Erie shoreline only. In addition, in the City of Dunkirk and the Towns of Dunkirk, Pomfret, Portland, Ripley and Westfield any residents who live directly along the Lake Erie shoreline in low lying areas are strongly urged to evacuate.
“With this winter storm, we are seeing high winds and rapidly rising water levels,” said Wendel. “This could cause extensive lakeshore flooding, the potential for seiches (waves) that could be as high as 24 feet, and damage especially to those communities who are susceptible to flooding or homeowners who have property directly on the Lake Erie shoreline.”
For those who are displaced by the mandatory evacuation, the Silver Creek High School on 1 Dickinson St. in Silver Creek, N.Y. will be open at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022 as a shelter for anyone who may need it.
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