Delaware River Ice Flow Passes Port Jervis, Deerpark Without Incident

A large ice flow that moved down the Delaware River past Port Jervis and the Town of Deerpark in early March passed through without incident, as emergency officials and federal monitors kept close watch on the progression.

Port Jervis Emergency Management Coordinator Tom Vicchiariello advised that a large volume of ice was expected to travel downriver past the Barryville area "without any problems over the weekend." Vicchiariello said the National Park Service, regional emergency units, and local officials were monitoring the progression of the ice movement, which was "expected to pass by freely, and without problems."

The ice flow was visible in dramatic fashion upstream of the Narrowsburg Bridge, where large sheets had piled up along the New York shore of the river. The Pennsylvania side told a different story: ice on that shoreline had mostly melted by the time monitoring was underway. Port Jervis, Deerpark, and other communities along the river kept watch and indicated they would issue advisories if conditions changed from continued smooth movement.

One unusual public-safety measure accompanied the monitoring effort. Vicchiariello noted that the regularly scheduled local monthly siren test did not take place Friday, specifically to avoid alarming residents already aware of the ice flow situation.

The National Park Service's Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River unit was among the agencies tracking the event, posting a photograph of the ice-covered river upstream of the Narrowsburg Bridge on March 5. No injuries, property damage, flooding, or emergency calls connected to the ice flow were reported in the accounts from officials.