Here & There Column 8-5-08

No Responsibility For Potential Sullivan Flooding

Once again....almost two weeks ago.... flood prone Sullivan County and surrounding area residents had to buckle down with fears of what might take place in light of the warnings that heavy thunder storms and rains were heading their way and county officials put into action plans and warned residents to be prepared and on guard.
Talking with Roscoe area residents on Monday of last week... who have been flooded out the past several years and almost experienced severe flooding two weeks ago...the response we got is "why isn't something done with the streams and flood protection in our area?"
Accusations were made that one government agency doesn't know what the other agency is doing and various state departments can't even provide figures on road and land elevations near the flood prone areas.
We clearly heard folks saying, "there is no responsibility from anyone to prevent potential flooding in our area."
Residents in flood prone areas of Sullivan County have seen a lot of public statements but little action to curb or prevent the actual flooding.
In the past there has been talk about the Flood Assessment Relief Act of 2007 which is a $5 million statewide fund to cover the costs of reducing assessments and would allow property owners to have their assessments reduced by as much as 50 percent if they have been damaged by flooding.
A welcome part of relief for these property owners but residents and those effected the most by flooding are showing and talking about their frustration by the lack of meaningful action.
Government and their agencies are experts in giving folks a "Snow Job" and in having folks fill out form after form when there is really not light at the end of the tunnel.
We all know that there is no way to flood proof everything but residents in flood prone areas are pleading for something to lessen the impact and it is becoming more and more evident that the ongoing failure of government agencies to address the problems waiting to happen.
We give credit to the many agencies out there working on flood issues, flood response and flood prevention but it is also very clear that there's no one agency that is keeping it all together and leading the charge.
The lack of long-term plans to deal with restoring streams that have flooded is a leading question many have. Some ask why can't key players get on the same page concerning floods.
The chronic flooding in the Catskills is causing the region to rise to the top of the agenda when it comes to fixing what's seen as an inadequate flood response system but the real challenge is to get one government agency to take the lead on flood response.
There has to be some responsibility here, promised studies have to be replaced with action.