One dead as heavy storms cause chaos on the roads in Hudson Valley, leaving drivers stranded

At least one New Yorker was killed Sunday night when “tidal-wave”-like floodwaters swept her away in a devastating rainstorm that pummeled parts of the Hudson Valley and wreaked havoc on roads and homes across the region.

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for Orange County and Ontario County Sunday night, stating that the counties “experienced life-threatening flooding over the past few hours” — totaling about eight inches of rain by 10 p.m.

A woman in her 30s drowned as she tried to flee her Orange County home with her dog, County Executive Steve Neuhaus said Sunday night.

“Her house was completely surrounded by water. The family tried to escape,” he said. “She was trying to get through [the floodwaters] with her dog and she was overwhelmed by tidal-wave type waves.”

The flash flooding dislodged boulders and smashed the large rocks into her house, damaging part of its wall, he said.

Two other family members and the dog survived the harrowing ordeal, officials said, according to PIX 11. Rescue teams were trying to retrieve the woman’s body from the waters Sunday night.

Several New Yorkers remained unaccounted for late into the night during the unrelenting storm. Hochul said on WCBS 880 there were more “missing individuals” in Orange County, without specifying a number.

“The amount of water is extraordinary and it’s still a very dangerous situation,” she said, noting one house was swept away.

She warned that “it’s going to be a rough night.”

New York State Police and other first responders brought multiple stranded motorists to safety Sunday night, a spokesperson said. Five swift-water rescue teams and a high-axle vehicle were deployed by the state to aid in rescues in high flood waters.

Authorities continued to do sweeps of the affected areas late into the night to make sure other drivers weren’t stuck in the cars, police said.

“We’re looking for people who may still be out there,” Trooper Steven Nevel told The Post Sunday night.

It’s unknown how many people have been rescued so far.

State police urged drivers to avoid parts of the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Orange and Rockland counties because of the heavy flooding. The parkway was shuttered from Exit 14 to the Long Mountain traffic circle, along with many other major roads.

“You couldn’t even get in there if you tried to,” Nevel said. “But even if you did, it wouldn’t be beneficial to you.”

Some drivers were forced to sleep in their cars Sunday night or stay in hotels that might not have power,  Neuhaus told PIX 11.