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Olcott family still reeling from 2017 flood, prepares for 2019 high water

Posted at 11:27 PM, May 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-13 23:27:45-04

OLCOTT, N.Y. (WKBW) — “You know, I don't want to go through this again,” said Carol Ralicki. She knows all about elevated water levels on Lake Ontario. In 2017, the water damaged the foundation of her Olcott home.

“Grateful to the state for fixing it,” added Ralicki. Massive moats surround her house for workers to get to her home’s foundation. The state is paying them to fix it after the 2017 flood.

She and her husband plan to visit family in Florida to get away. Across the street, people are visiting Olcott.

“It's a beautiful area and we love coming out here,” said Mark Bemis.

The fishermen from Maine won't lie. The high water makes him and his friends think twice about coming back.

“It makes it hard fishing because there is so much debris in the water out there,” said Bemis.

The state is taking more precautions, earlier this year than in 2017. In Niagara County alone, there are 20 Pumps running, 70,000 sand bags in place, and 400 feet of aquadams blocking the water.

But, with the water rising, there isn't much Carol can do.

“We have to pray all the time that our house don't fall down, or fall in, or worry that all that water is just going to come at us,” said Ralicki.