Sullivan County press release issued Sunday 6:15 pm:

Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek has extended a State of Emergency for the towns of Forestburgh, Highland, Lumberland and Tusten in southern Sullivan County effective immediately until 6:00 P.M. Monday, March 5, 2018, due to significant ongoing impacts from Friday's nor’easter.

“Extending the State of Emergency in these locations ensures not only the safety of residents but County, State and utility workers out there responding to a multitude of challenges,” said Potosek. “This blizzard smacked the County hard, and it is paramount that we restore power and transportation as soon as possible.”

Many streets and roads remain closed in these areas, mostly due to wires and limbs.

“If you come across downed or entangled wires, DO NOT touch them or attempt to remove trees and branches surrounding them,” advised Sullivan County Public Safety Commissioner Rick Sauer. “You not only could endanger yourself, but you could also make it more difficult for utility crews to complete their critical work.”

The emergency declaration bans travel on County and local roads in the areas of Forestburgh, Glen Spey, Pond Eddy, Eldred, Yulan, Barryville and Narrowsburg. This prohibition does not apply to vehicles engaged in road maintenance due to the storm or those traveling to or from their jobs in relation to these duties, along with medical and healthcare personnel, public employees designated as essential personnel, utility operators and repair personnel, and volunteers or employees of non-profit organizations providing emergency assistance associated with the storm.

Travel is not restricted in the portions of Sullivan County outside the previously mentioned towns.

As a result of these ongoing impacts, the following school districts will be closed on Monday. As of 4 p.m., that list of closures includes:

• Eldred

• Fallsburg

• Sullivan County BOCES

• Monticello

• Sullivan West

• Liberty

• Port Jervis

List of Warming Centers, Shelters

The following warming centers and shelters are open to the public:

• Ted Stroebele Recreation Center, Jefferson Street, Monticello (replacing the previous location of Monticello Middle School at 8 p.m.)

• United Methodist Church, North Main Street, Liberty

• Highland Town Hall, Proctor Road, Eldred (dry ice available, as supplies last)

• Tusten Town Hall, Bridge Street, Narrowsburg (dry ice available, as supplies last)

• Youngsville Firehouse, Shandelee Road (dry ice available, as supplies last)

• Rock Hill Ambulance Corps, Lake Louise Marie Road

• Fallsburg Town Hall, Railroad Avenue, South Fallsburg (dry ice available, as supplies last)

• Lighthouse Ministries, Triangle Road, Liberty

• White Lake Firehouse, Route 17B (dry ice available, as supplies last)

• Mamakating Environmental Education Center, South Road, Wurtsboro

• Lake Huntington Firehouse, Lake Huntington Road

• Mamakating Town Hall, Route 209, Wurtsboro

• Forestburgh Firehouse, Route 42 (dry ice available, as supplies last)

• Camp Simcha, White Road, Glen Spey

Additionally, the Woodbourne Firehouse on Route 52 and the Deerpark Town Hall in Huguenot are distributing dry ice and water, as supplies last.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a State of Emergency for Sullivan County on the state level. Representatives from the Governor's Office, NYS Dept. of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, New York Power Authority, NYS Dept. of Transportation, State Police and the New York National Guard have been deployed to the Sullivan County Emergency Operations Center in Swan Lake. They are working closely with County and local officials on recovery efforts and to facilitate in the coordination of the response from the utility companies.

Numerous mutual aid crews have been deployed, from as far away as Texas and Canada, to speed the restoration of services.

Please check the Sullivan County website www.co.sullivan.ny.us and Facebook page www.facebook.com/sullivancountygov for updates, and if power is lost, please tune into the local radio stations.