Michigan faces air quality concerns; heavy rains pummel West Point, New York

Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press
Updated ·2 min read
Heavy rains flood and wash out roads Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Heavy rains flood and wash out roads Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.

Families of West Point cadets — particularly the 27 new cadets from Michigan there in cadet basic training — are concerned this week after torrential rains ripped across New York state. The Hudson Valley, where the U.S. Military Academy is located, was one of the hardest-hit areas.

Heavy rains flood and wash out roads Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Heavy rains flood and wash out roads Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.

Meanwhile, a cold front approaching metro Detroit by Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon may bring some relief to poor air quality concerns here as temperatures are forecast to gradually drop to the low 60s, and winds start to pick up.

Photos showed the West Point's streets flooded and eroded away, with some people with dark humor posting on social media wet suits as the new uniforms and quips about how they could imagine the Naval Academy under water, but not West Point.

New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Highland Falls, the city near West Point.

About 8 inches of rain fell as of Sunday night, and in Orange County, New York, a woman in her 30s died, according to news reports. Other people were missing, at least one house was swept away by the fast-moving water and flash flood warnings were in effect.

Heavy rains flood and wash out roads Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Heavy rains flood and wash out roads Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.

The military academy said it is assessing the extent of the damage and state emergency responders were there, offering support. Meanwhile, the Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland asked for patience as workers clear roadways and assess infrastructure after the "devastating rainfall."

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"Our teams are working together to ensure everyone’s safety," Gilland said, adding they are "working around the clock to restore capabilities that have been lost or reduced. They will be determining the scope or the damage over the next few days."

That did not delay, however, the cadet candidates at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. Free Press reporter Nour Rahal contributed.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: West Point recovering from flood damage; cold front to hit Michigan