Waterford Harbor prepared for Debby

WATERFORD, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The Capital Region is prepared for Tropical Storm Debby and this rain soaker event. NEWS10’s crews checked in with the Waterford Harbor Master and some mariners who had stopped there for the storm, Thursday.   “This has come up quite a bit over the last 24 hours and it will continue to,” said Harbor Master Jeff Cleary.

At the harbor a few boats mooring up and some docked for the storm. “They should get off the water they should come into port and wait this thing out,” said Cleary.

Some mariners i met got caught off guard.  “They said two days they will open the locks so we’re hoping this will pass and not be as severe so we can make it all the way to Oswego and then eventually to Lake Ontario” Amir Raffa, self-proclaimed, experienced open water sailor went on to say, ” I never thought a hurricane would impact us on the canals. I thought we would be safe, here.”

The harbor master tells NEWS10 he does not expect the water levels to rise too high.  “Up there on the wall, there you’ll see where Irene came back in August of 2011. And we certainly don’t anticipate it coming anywhere near that in this storm.”

Meanwhile, this is nothing new for the Waterford Harbor Volunteers. They tell NEWS10 Reporter James De La Fuente they have been through storms like this, before. “We are anticipating that it is not going to go over. But it’s going to be flirting with the edge,” said volunteer, Laurie Literski.

Some mariners continuing the journey upriver before tomorrow’s predicted onslaught of rain. Yet, others say this kind of weather is perfect, for fishing. “The big ones are out today, yeah.” Fisherman, Bill Hinds, says he had a good catch, today, “I got a eight pound catfish, 12 pounder.”

As nice as his spot is, all good things must come to an end. “My wife is going to pick me up in about another hour, hopefully get out of this weather,” said Hinds.

Tropical storm Debby is predicted to drop a significant amount of rain throughout the Capital Region. Officials remind drivers that when out driving in this storm and you see water cross over a roadway, turn around and don’t drown.  Stay tuned to NEWS10 both on air and online at NEWS10.com for the very latest in storm conditions.

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