TRR photo by Jill Padua The rush of water over the Little Lake Erie bridge washed out part of the roadway on the Irish Hill side of the bridge. (Click for larger image)

By TOM KANE

COCHECTON & TUSTEN - The rains came last Saturday-as much as eight inches in four hours.

"It was the worst downpour I've ever seen," said Town of Tusten Supervisor Richard Crandall.

Hardest hit were the towns of Tusten and Cochecton in western Sullivan County.

"This morning and yesterday our highway crews were fixing critical roads that people frequently use and were repairing several drive- ways of elderly couples who weren't able to get off their properties," Crandall said on Tuesday.