Authorities in the Mohawk Valley are taking precautions against flooding, deploying thousands of sandbags and cleaning out waterways. Now officials asking the public's help in their efforts. YNN's Andrew Sorensen has the details.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

UTICA, N.Y. -- Authorities in the Mohawk Valley are taking precautions against flooding, deploying thousands of sandbags and cleaning out waterways. Now, officials asking the public's help in their efforts.

One of their largest concerns is leaves clogging catch basins or storm drains. They are asking the public to clean out any drains that may be in front of your house to help prevent unnecessary flooding.

They would also like you to bring loose piles of leaves or green waste back as far away from the street as you can.

And lastly, throughout the storm, they are asking the public to monitor the catch basins from a safe place.

"Be vigilant," said Utica DPW Commissioner Dave Short.

"If you see some flooding happening on your street, in front of your house, down the corner, call the Department of Public Works. Let us know, we'll come out and take a look at it. We want to make sure we don't have any minor flooding. We know that we will have some type of flooding with this storm, it just depends on the degree of how the storm comes," he said.

Short estimated more than two inches of rain could potentially bring heavy flooding, which can be assisted by clearing the drains.

For flooded roads and downed trees or power lines in Rome, call (315) 339-7778, (315) 339-7774, or (315) 225-9091 if the other two are unavailable.

For the same service in Utica, call (315) 738-1341.