Protecting Our Residents (and Businesses)
in The Flood Zones
Many of our residents and businesses are in
vulnerable flood zones.
They suffered devastating damage during the
2006 and 2011 floods.
Watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLn0ZRzd4bk
Many painstakingly rebuilt, while others lost everything,
forced to move, their houses condemned.
All of the experts agree, our flood zones will flood again,
it’s just a question of when.
What Can We Do?
The answer is clear. A lot can be done.
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Non-structural flood mitigation - We can plan measures on Town property and encourage mitigation measures on private property. Simple measures, such as planting trees provide protection, but there are many other things that can be considered.
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Structural improvements - The most effective protection, though, would be building up the existing flood walls/levees (that were built in the 1950s). The Army Corp of Engineers conducted a study of the entire Upper Susquehanna area (Binghamton, Endicott, Vestal, Johnson City, Owego and 7 other towns), to determine if vulnerable flood areas could be protected. From 2016 until 2020 they studied the area meticulously, considering every possible option for each individual area, determining what would be effective. Their report is extremely detailed, and their conclusions are very clear for our area. If the existing flood/Levee walls in Endicott, Johnson City and Vestal are raised, it would provide effective, substantial protection, with minimal negative environmental impact. All 3 areas must be done together. If the floodwalls are built up in only one or two of the areas, it would push the diverted water into the unprotected area(s).(See links below for the full study and final report)
In their final report, the project (inclusive of all 13 Towns) is denied because the benefit wouldn’t justify the cost.
That being said, though, they clearly state that if our local project (Vestal/Johnson City/Endicott) is done, it would be effective, provide substantial protection and have minimal negative environmental impact.
Why Aren’t These Things Being Done?
Schaffer and the current Town Board are NOT considering either structural or non-structural flood mitigation for the flood zones.
None of these measures are included in Vestal’s most current Flood Mitigation Plan.
Town of Vestal 2019 Flood Mitigation Report (Broome County website):
Instead of attempting to protect the people and businesses in the flood zones, they are planning to move the Town Hall (to protect it from flooding), but absolutely nothing to protect the people and businesses of the area.
This is unacceptable.
Glenn, Robert and I, though, will make it a priority and pursue everything possible to protect our residents and businesses in the flood zones.
We will:
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Prioritize non-structural flood mitigation on Town owned property and provide residents/businesses with information on flood mitigation options, encouraging them to make choices that provide protection.
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Prioritize the structural improvements we need, raising the flood walls/levees. We will do everything in our power to obtain funding and make it happen. Pursuing it is not, by any means, guaranteed. We would have to work together with Union (Johnson City/Endicott), resubmit our local project as a separate entity and try to get funding, but it is possible….and we must try.
Owego did just that…and they succeeded. They were part of the same Army Corp of Engineer study. They separated their local project out from the large project, resubmitted, obtained approval (and funding) for the required area study, and will get help to find the grants to fund the full project.
See the WBNG news report:
https://www.wbng.com/2023/08/23/village-owego-addresses-flooding-concerns-with-planning-level-study/
Glenn, Robert and I promise to pursue everything possible to protect our residents and businesses in the flood zones.
Your vote can make a real difference.
~ Maria ~
Town of Vestal 2019 Flood Mitigation Report (Broome County website):
(This is the most recent report. The next update will be in 2024.)
Army Corp of Engineer 2020 Upper Susquehanna River Basin, New York Comprehensive Flood Damage Reduction Feasibility Studies:
Initial report (analysis of effectiveness of each possible option, for each area studied):
https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Portals/63/USRB_AppendixA_PlanForm.pdf
Completion report (final feasibility assessments for each area, considering both technical feasibility and cost/benefit conclusions):
https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Portals/63/USRB_Completion_Report_May_2020.pdf