State of Emergency declared for all of Chemung County

The damage has been done and now the recovery effort begins. A line of severe storms caused significant problems across the Southern Tier Thursday afternoon. Our Bill Mich joined us from Elmira, where much of the worst damage was reported.

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State of Emergency declared in Chemung County

Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a State of Emergency for Chemung County.

A State of Emergency has been declared in Elmira, according to Mayor Susan Skidmore. There is also a curfew in place from 8 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday.

The Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter has been set up at Elmira Free Academy on Hoffman Street in Elmira.

SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. – A State of Emergency has been delcared in Chemung County and a State of Emergency and curfew are in effect in Elmira after a line of severe storms caused significant damage in the area.

The storm swept through the Southern Tier Thursday afternoon, bringing down trees and power lines and blowing the roofs off some buildings. There are reports a tornado may have touched down, with many residents saying they saw a funnel cloud, but that has not yet been confirmed by the National Weather Service.

The Chemung County Emergency Management office says a curfew is in place, running from 8 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday. They've also issued a Travel Advisory for the entire county.

Officials also ask that residents to stay off the phones and only call 911 in emergencies.

Residents we spoke with say they were shocked by the damage caused in such a short time frame.

The Red Cross has opened an emergency shelter at the Elmira Free Academy on Hoffman Street. It's able to accommodate about 100 people.

Travel Advisory issued for Chemung County

Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli has issued a Travel Advisory for all of Chemung County. At this time, Sheriff Christopher Moss and Emergency Management Director Michael Smith are assessing the damage of the storm throughout the County. The City of Elmira experienced significant damage with many trees and power lines are down. Numerous car accidents have also been reported. Residents are encouraged to stay indoors and off the roads for their safety while emergency crews clear the roads.