As extreme weather events become more common, a question arises whether communities in The Overlook Region are prepared for natural disasters—especially after recent catastrophic flooding in Texas.
On July 4, torrential rains swept through the Texas Hill Country, leaving at least 120 people dead and 173 still missing. Among the hardest-hit areas was Kerr County, where 27 campers and staff at Camp Mystic, a Christian all-girls summer camp, died in the flood.
Despite accurate forecasts by the National Weather Service, many residents reportedly never received evacuation warnings, sparking nationwide concern about local emergency procedures.
In the Hudson Valley, officials say there are steps residents can take now to be prepared in an emergency.
Flooding among Ulster County’s top risks
Ulster County’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan lists flooding as one of the county’s highest hazards, particularly along stream corridors in towns like Woodstock, Olive, Shandaken, and Saugerties. The plan, adopted in 2014, outlines strategies such as stream corridor management, improved floodplain mapping, and property buyouts to reduce risk.
Other high-priority threats include hazardous materials in transit and electric grid failure.
“All disasters are local,” the plan notes. Local towns are the first to respond, with the county and state providing support as needed. At a public meeting in June, Shandaken officials and environmental groups offered residents practical tools—from flood insurance guidance to free native plantings—to prepare for rising waters and reduce risk in one of the Catskills’ most flood-prone towns.
How to stay informed and prepared
Most towns in The Overlook Region, including Saugerties, Olive, Hurley, Shandaken and Woodstock, have dedicated emergency preparedness pages on their municipal websites. These include evacuation routes, shelter information, and links to alert systems.
- In Woodstock, officials recommend residents monitor Radio Kingston (WKNY 1490 AM and 107.9 FM) for live emergency broadcasts and visit the town’s disaster preparedness page.
- In Shandaken, residents can sign up for emergency alerts via the towns’ website. The town also offers an emergency card with vital phone numbers in case of an emergency.
- Hurley also offers the option to receive alerts as well as providing important information on shelters, food pantries, and post emergency resources.
- Olive provides preparedness resources, and residents can opt in to e-alerts for weather warnings.
- Saugerties provides an emergency contact list that includes local fire departments and key officials.
- Hunter provides an emergency contact list that includes local fire departments and key officials.
Residents can also check FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center to assess flood risks specific to their location. The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a national FEMA-run network, allows local authorities to broadcast emergency alerts across platforms.
New York State’s Citizen Preparedness Corps offers free statewide training and online resources to help residents prepare for disasters ranging from floods to power outages.
Sophie Moos is an intern at The Overlook. You can reach her at reporting@theoverlooknews.com.