*** Emergency Information For Herkimer County ***

HERKIMER, 07/01/13 --  The Herkimer County Emergency Operations Center has issued an update on the status of the flooding recovery efforts. Here's what residents in the affected areas should know:

TRAVEL

Residents are asked to avoid all unnecessary travel and to exercise caution when travel is required. Crews are still working to clear roadways of debris. Additional travel information for state roads can be found online at www.511NY.org.

EMERGENCY SHELTERS & MEALS

The Salvation Army will be setting up a food service site at 431 N. Prospect St. in Herkimer and will be serving lunch for those needing it beginning at noon. Another food service site will be set up in the empty lot next to the Family Dollar at the corner of East Main Street and Bellinger Street in Mohawk to serve hot meals starting at 5 p.m.

The American Red Cross is accepting those in need of shelter at the First Methodist Church, 127 N. Prospect St., in Herkimer. It will be serving cold lunches at the Owen D. Young School in Van Hornesville starting at noon, and dinners at the same location starting at 5 p.m.

ELECTRICITY

Power restoration efforts continue. The village of Mohawk is experiencing low energy levels and residents are asked to use power sparingly (i.e. only for essential purposes, such as hot water heaters, lights and refrigerators -- not air conditioning).

National Grid is handing out dry ice and additional information at the Herkimer Fire Department, 125 N. Washington St. in Herkimer, and at 28 Grove St. in Mohawk, behind the high school.

DEBRIS REMOVAL

Homeowners should place debris requiring municipal removal between the sidewalk and the curb in front of their residence, taking care not to impede traffic or block drainage grates. Questions about hazardous material disposal or on-site concerns can be directed to the New York State Spill Hotline at 1-800-457-7362.

VEHICLES

Residents are asked to ensure that vehicles aren't in the way of traffic or recovery efforts. An abandoned car task force is locating and removing abandoned vehicles -- if you're missing a vehicle or are aware of one displaced by the flood, notify the Herkimer County 911 Center by calling 911 or 866-0974. Residents are also asked to report propane or fuel tanks.

DUST and POLLEN

The floods released high levels of dust and pollen. The county will be providing particle masks to those interested Monday at the following locations: Herkimer Fire Department, 125 N. Washington St., Herkimer; Mohawk Fire Department, 28 Columbia St., Mohawk; Ilion Municipal Building, 49 Morgan St., Ilion.

WEATHER

More rain and high winds are in the forecast for the region. Continue monitoring forecasts and weather alerts as they're issued.  You can sign-up to receieve free, real time alerts, at www.nyalert.gov.