Possible 5th Victim Of Ida Under Investigation: Latimer

WHITE PLAINS, NY — There may be another victim whose death is related to the already deadly Hurricane Ida which dumped up to 10 inches of rain in Westchester County.

During his Friday afternoon news briefing, County Executive George Latimer said the White Plains police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the possible latest victim.

He said the people who have died so far were merely traveling from one point to another.

Kenneth Baile of Rye Brook was the first of the county's Ida-related deaths. His wife, Frances Baile, is still missing, police said. The couple's car was found in Purchase. Samuel Weissmandl, rabbi from Mount Kisco was found dead in Elmsford, and a 33-year-old Bronx man was found dead in Mount Vernon.

Latimer said it was encouraging to have Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in Yonkers and Mamaroneck Friday, touring the damage caused by Ida.

He said there are things that county government can fix, but something along the lines of hardening communities against climate change requires the federal government.

Latimer said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is in the county making assessments and will be determining eligibility for funding.

"The most important thing you can do right now is take pictures of what happened to your property," he said, and keep copies of any receipts, because home and business owners will be asked to provide them at some point.

The county is also looking at what it can do to help any businesses that were impacted by Ida.

As of 3 p.m. Friday, the county parkways were all open.

Latimer did, however, caution motorists who may be traveling around the county over the Labor Day weekend that, while the standing water may have disappeared, there might still be a lot of mud and debris on the roadways.

He said it may be difficult to get from point A to point B.

"It will be important that you know what's closed and what's open," Latimer said.