Evacuations in Oneonta due to flooding
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: September 8, 2011
Kevin Stone woke up Thursday morning to a knock on his door from
maintenance telling him he had twenty minutes to grab his things and
evacuate.
With that sudden wake up call, millions of thoughts were running through his head.
Stone said he didn't know what to get and take with him when he was told to evacuate.
Those living in the Lantern mobile home park in Oneonta were forced to evacuate their homes Thursday morning.
Residents weer taken to the St. Mary's church for shelter.
For Stone, this was not the first time having to evacuate in the area.
"In 2006 in the flood when we were in Unadilla, we lost everything. I mean everything," said Stone.
97 percent of the residents were evacuated from the mobile park, and all were out no later then 8:30 in the morning.
Those residents who made the decision to stay were told that they would then be on their own.
By Thursday afternoon, the total shelter head count was 102 people. All of them had worries and uncertainty about what would happen to their homes.
Earl Fessenden arrived at the shelter this morning and has tried getting in contact with his family in Laurens. Unfortunately, he has not been able to hear back from them.
"I'm kinda worried now because I'm trying to find my other family that was in Laurens, and they don't know which shelter they are in," said Fessenden.
Those staying in the shelter have not heard whether they would be able to return back to their homes.
According to The American Red Cross, residents could be staying at the shelter for three days, or even more. It all depends on the conditions.
For now, everyone staying at the shelter can only wait and pray for an answer soon.
With that sudden wake up call, millions of thoughts were running through his head.
Stone said he didn't know what to get and take with him when he was told to evacuate.
Those living in the Lantern mobile home park in Oneonta were forced to evacuate their homes Thursday morning.
Residents weer taken to the St. Mary's church for shelter.
For Stone, this was not the first time having to evacuate in the area.
"In 2006 in the flood when we were in Unadilla, we lost everything. I mean everything," said Stone.
97 percent of the residents were evacuated from the mobile park, and all were out no later then 8:30 in the morning.
Those residents who made the decision to stay were told that they would then be on their own.
By Thursday afternoon, the total shelter head count was 102 people. All of them had worries and uncertainty about what would happen to their homes.
Earl Fessenden arrived at the shelter this morning and has tried getting in contact with his family in Laurens. Unfortunately, he has not been able to hear back from them.
"I'm kinda worried now because I'm trying to find my other family that was in Laurens, and they don't know which shelter they are in," said Fessenden.
Those staying in the shelter have not heard whether they would be able to return back to their homes.
According to The American Red Cross, residents could be staying at the shelter for three days, or even more. It all depends on the conditions.
For now, everyone staying at the shelter can only wait and pray for an answer soon.
