Hurricane Irene Impacts Windham Mountain: Resort Managers ‘Challenged, But Confident of Recovery’
The remnants of Hurricane Irene dumped record rainfall in the Northern Catskill Mountains, producing widespread flooding, power outages and road damage.
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WINDHAM, N.Y. (August 30, 2011): The remnants of Hurricane Irene dumped record rainfall in the Northern Catskill Mountains, producing widespread flooding, power outages and road damage.
The village of Windham and the Windham Mountain Resort were both significantly impacted, however resort officials are confident that they can recover in time for the winter season.
Tim Woods, president and senior advisor to the Windham Partners, said that the damage to the community and the resort was “serious but repairable.”
“One of our biggest concerns right now is for the town and neighbors,” Woods said. “Main Street and some of the secondary roads were hit pretty hard. But this is a remarkable community. I’ve lived here for (15) years and I know what it can do. The town, and the resort, will be ready to welcome visitors this winter.”
Woods said that Windham’s lifts are all in good shape, but that there was erosion damage around the base lodge, resort roads and some ski trails.
“We’ll have enough time to repair them,” he said. Woods said the resort’s chief concern was the main pump house at the resort’s snowmaking reservoir along the Batavia Kill River, which was heavily damaged by the flood. The resort is already working with state and federal officials to expedite permitting for repairs.
“There’s a lot to do, but given the importance of the resort to Greene County’s economy and the care with which we and other local resort operators comply with state and water management guidelines, we’re optimistic that we can begin reconstruction promptly,” Woods said.
