Flash Flooding: Cuomo Orders Full Response for New York

The National Weather Service has issued flash-flood warnings in and around several large cities, including Albany, Binghamton, N.Y., and Philadelphia.

Widespread flooding from Lee has been blamed for three deaths in Pennsylvania, where thousands were ordered to evacuate.

Fears of flash flooding will continue to tax already weary emergency workers all along the East Coast, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee continues to soak Northeastern United States on Thursday, causing rivers to swell past the breaking point.

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday said the state's full response capacity have been deployed to Broome County where heavy rains from Tropical Storm Lee have caused increased flood levels.

Along with the State Emergency Office, Cuomo also deployed 125 National Guard troops with high axle clearance vehicles to the area to help in rescues.

I deployed the State Emergency Management Office to Binghamton last night to coordinate the delivery of state resources which might be necessary to protect life and property should serious flooding develop in areas along the flood-prone Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers, Cuomo said in a statement.

Emergency services and management, along with swift water boats and specially trained crews from the New York State Police and the State Department of Environmental Conservation have also been dispatched to the area.

Tropical Storm Lee swept through the U.S. with heavy rainfall and has increased the water level in the Susquehanna River, which runs through the city, to more than 18 feet above normal in 24 hours, according to reports.

There are concerns over the flood levels for other Southern Tier creeks and tributaries.

Cuomo said with prolonged heavy rains falling on saturated land, rivers and major creeks began to rise on Wednesday and upstate dams once again approached their capacities.

Here's the latest warning from the National Weather Service here.

The National Weather Service in Binghampton has extended the flash flood warning for a dam failure on the ELK Lake Dam on the Elk Creek in West Central Susquehanna County in northeast Pennsylvania until 3:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday.

-- At 9:07 a.m. the imminent failure of the Elk Dam was reported by County Emergency Management. Water is close to going over the top of the damn.

-- No towns are directly downstream from the dam. If you are in low-lying areas below the Elk Lake Dam you should move to higher ground immediately. Follow the evacuation instructions provided by your local emergency officials. Do not attempt to drive across flooded roadways.