WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. July 19, 2005, UPDATED 5:30 P.M. E.D.T.: The Target Store in the City Center reopened this morning on schedule, after being forced to close due to flooding of their first level (below Main Street) due to what  is described as a "25 year storm" that engulfed White Plains Monday afternoon at approximately 4 PM. The store manager of Target said he did not have an explanation of why the flooding entered his store at this time. The Target store switchboard advised WPCNR portions of the lower level of the store were cordoned off, but the store was open for business.

WPCNR also has learned from a CitizeNetReporter attempting to visit the Library on Martine Avenue that the White Plains Public Library sustained flooding causing it to be closed all day. This was not announced to the media. A Reference Clerk told WPCNR this afternoon that the Library sustained "some leakage," causing it to be closed and that the library would reopen tomorrow. She said no books or library material had been damaged. Another CitizeNetReporter noted to us that the library's Trove construction suffered water damage but that has yet to be confirmed.

Another CitizeNetReporter checked in this afternoon, reporting that the Crowne Plaza Hotel (located off Maple Avenue), also sustained "severe water damage" from the storm.

The White Plains Hospital Center experienced flooding at their old emergency entrance and had pumps removing the runoff.

Meanwhile across the street from the City Center  in city hall, the lower level also experienced flooding Monday afternoon through the Budget Department. It is reported that fans are being used to dry out the carpeting on the lower level of city hall.

WPCNR has placed a call to Cappelli Enterprises for an explanation of why the flooding occurred, other than, of course, the rain. The hearsay around city hall is that this was a 25 year storm and the storm water drains are not equipped to handle a storm where so much rain fell in such a short period of time.