Severe spring storms did major damage to a portion of the Finger Lakes.

In Yates County, emergency crews were out overnight and making sure people were safe, as roadways were wiped out in some spots. Flooding forced some people from their homes, as a shelter was set up at the Penn Yan Academy.

Flood warnings were put in place for all of Penn Yan and Yates County through Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service reports that five or more inches of rain fell in a span of three to four hours overnight in the Penn Yan area, causing all the problems.

Police were warning drivers Wednesday that they shouldn’t go around barriers in the road, because there was a chance the road was washed out past those barriers.

Our media partner, WENY-TV, first reported damages to buildings throughout the Penn Yan area. One building collapsed as flooding and heavy rains occurred late Tuesday night.

A state of emergency was declared for Yates County.