Flood Safety Summit Planned for New York State

Over the last four years, nine flood events occurred in New York resulting in major federal disaster declarations. The cost of these events was "staggering" with nearly $500 million spent for emergency response and repairs to the public infrastructure alone, said Governor Eliot Spitzer, announcing the meeting Thursday.

Flooding at Binghamton, New York. July 2006. (Photo by Brian Brown)

Michael Balboni, the state’s deputy secretary for public safety, has been tapped to lead the flood summit. He will begin the process by engaging state and local officials in an active discussion and explore solutions to the problem.

Balboni said, "The flooding in June and July of 2006 affected 21 counties. It has been described as ‘the 500 year event’ in the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley and Catskill regions. Recovery costs associated with this one flood event alone have surpassed $300 million. We need to come to grips with watershed management, response, monitoring and warning issues to better protect our communities."

The entire Flood Summit will be webcast over the New York State Emergency Management Office website at: http://www.semo.state.ny.us.

The summit will begin at 8 am. on Thursday, February 28, and will run until approximately 1:15 pm. It will be held at the Binghamton Regency Hotel at 1 Sarbro Square in Binghamton.

At the summit, representatives of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, DEC, and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition will discuss watershed management topics such as stream maintenance, streambank stabilization and permitting.

Representatives from the National Weather Service and the Steuben County Office of Emergency Management will discuss river and stream monitoring systems, and alert and notification.

A third panel comprised of representatives from the DEC, the New York State Police, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the State Emergency Management Office, and the Broome County Office of Emergency Services will discuss search and rescue issues.

Some officials already have floated solutions to the problem. State Senator John Bonacic said, "The DEC must issue the necessary permits to undertake streamwork and the state must be more aggressive in supporting a lowering of reservoir levels. We must engage in a more active flood buyout program, and recognize the traumatic impact flooding has on the communities of the Catskills and Hudson Valley."

Senator Thomas Libous, who represents Binghamton, said, "The floods of 2006 in the Southern Tier devastated people's lives. Homes and businesses were destroyed. Millions of dollars were lost. But the resiliency of our community is overwhelming and has shown through the rehabilitation process. Hosting the Flood Summit here in Binghamton is a great opportunity for our community to show the entire state just how united and strong we truly are."

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