Kristina Martino / The Citizen

Minor road construction delays and flooded homes, results of Wednesday's heavy rain, are the most severe flood damages in Cayuga County, county officials say.

Cayuga County Emergency Management Director Brian Dahl said the worst flooding occurred in the Cato-Meridian area.

Dahl said Auburn received 4 inches of rain. Other areas got significantly more.

Larry Dygert, deputy director of fire for the county, said the county is recovering very well.

"Last night was very dramatic. We've never experienced flooding like this," Dygert said.

After conducting a preliminary damage assessment report throughout the county Thursday morning, Chris Molloy, of the Cayuga County Red Cross, said flood water, especially in the villages of Cato and Meridian had subsided.

"People were pumping water from their basements and there were no major injuries reported," Molloy said. "We ended up closing our emergency shelter last night, too."

Route 370 was reopened Thursday morning, but the Seneca River remained off limits to boaters because of high water levels and debris. Dahl said he was worried about both the Seneca River and Cross Lake eventually flooding.

John Gladys, who lives along Route 370 in the village of Meridian, found five feet of water in his basement when he came home Thursday morning. Gladys spent a night in a hotel because power was turned off in his area due to flooding.

Read the full report in Friday's editon of The Citizen.

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net