Don’t Wait For Another 100-Year Storm

It’s been several days since Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines. The level of destruction and the quantity of lost lives is devastating. Approximately 4 million people (and counting) were affected by the storm, the national disaster agency said. Compounding this disaster is the lack of resources in the general vicinity, blocked or reduced access, one airport with limited use, no water and no food. This will make any relief effort imperative and difficult. While authorities had evacuated approximately 800k people before the typhoon struck, it wasn’t enough. Death tolls continue to rise with numbers exceeding 10k. Many of the buildings used for shelter were not built to withstand extreme weather conditions and water surges and their failures added to the loss of lives.

We cannot compare the affects of Typhoon Haiyan to Greenburgh, although it generated a conversation with our staff about storm preparations and what hasn’t been done in the Town for us to be prepared for the next storm. There were several general observations that would be similar regardless of where an event took place. One is that the Police and Fire departments are reactive agencies. They cannot do much in advance preparation for individuals. They will pre-place traffic control “horses” in key locations that are known to flood in preparation of closing those roadways. They have a list of people with special needs and their locations and will attempt to ensure everyone’s well-being during an event, but frankly, they wind up being busy with much more. As all sorts of wires come down (charged or not), flooding begins, burglar and fire alarms get activated, trees get uprooted or come down, automotive accidents happen and so on, they’ll get busier and busier. Focusing on one person becomes increasingly difficult.

The Greenburgh Police Department has volunteer Auxiliary Police officers that will help out with manning certain locations to prevent pedestrians and motorists from entering unsafe areas, directing traffic, coordinating information and free up regular officers to respond to more serious requests for assistance. The Fire Department has volunteer Firefighters that will assist with firefighting activities, road and building closures and give the fire department an added boost in manpower while saving taxpayers overtime money. All of the Villages have volunteer fire departments. And, when any and all of these agencies respond, they will all be limited as to what they can do if electrical wires are involved.

The highway departments will ready themselves too. They will get their chain saws, assorted cutting equipment, vehicles and other tools ready to be deployed as required. The difficulty for them is that while they can assume they will be called out, they are also limited as to how much they can actually do if electrical wires are involved. In a post Hurricane Sandy meeting at Town Hall, our favorite campaigner held a meeting to openly complain about Con Ed’s “poor” response with the restoration of power. He felt it took longer than he thought it should, claiming the workers should have worked around the clock and through the night. ConEd officials we spoke with say they will allow workers to respond to emergency requests but that working at night/in the dark is just not safe and discouraged. Mr Feiner’s session was not constructive at all and turned into nothing more than a “bash ConEd” event. Mr Feiner also ensured no resistance and nothing productive come of the meeting by not inviting ConEd to participate.

Those assaulted by Hurricanes Irene and Sandy received a respite this year because of a relatively dry season. So as we approach 2014, we query what changes have our leaders implemented to reduce flooding and local devastation for the next storm? The Highway Department has repaved a number of roads, improving water drainage for normal amounts of rainfall. Flash flooding remains an issue. They’ve cleared many of the culverts, blockages and areas known to be problematic during storms. According to Highway Superintendent Victor Carosi, “We may not be able to make any improvements, but we can certainly make sure everything we do have is working properly.” These simple steps are what the routine maintenance from the Town and its leaders should be. But was has actually been done to prepare for next year’s 100-Year Storm? Frankly, nothing.

Mr Feiner began touring the Town and the damaged areas several days after receiving word it was safe to leave the comfort of his luxury home in the gated Boulder Ridge sanctuary in Hastings. He arrived just in time to Fulton Park as the News 12 mobile TV unit arrived. Neighborhood residents converged around him, demanding answers and help. He told one woman that FEMA would purchase flooded homes in the neighborhood. He also said that FEMA flood insurance would help those who were flooded. What he didn’t say is in order for FEMA to purchase their homes, the Town would need to take a number of critical steps first. He also didn’t discuss the $5k deductible that all FEMA flood policy owners would be socked with. One resident said the FEMA adjuster, from Alabama, offered $700 to replace his furnace because that’s what they go for in Alabama. In a follow-up phone call to that resident, the cost to replace the furnace was $7,000!

Mr Feiner next went to the perennial flood favorite, Babbitt Court. We understand that several higher ranking politicians such as Nita Lowey and Chuck Schumer arrived there to be rebuffed by flood-weary residents. Ever the camera gadfly, Mr Feiner began his repeat performance of pointing fingers at everyone else, insisting they do something to help their constituents. He didn’t say to help his constituents, but their constituents. Once the camera lights went out, so did Mr Feiner’s interest. Ironically, after being presented photos of collected debris and strainers in the Saw Mill River, Mr Feiner continued to say someone should do something. Someone did. Then Elmsford Village Trustee William Zimkin, organized a Saw Mill River cleanup just beyond the Elmsford Little League baseball fields on 9A and those involved removed multiple dumpsters filled with debris. Too little too late? Perhaps, but at least one Village Board acted locally to help their residents. The Bronx River blockages and strainers remain untouched and continue to get worse! Why isn’t Mr Feiner and his Town Board doing something while the weather is cooperative?

A concerted effort needs to be made by officials at all levels of government to start to address a number of issues plaguing our river communities and help reduce flooding. Our local representatives need to not only be the strongest voice for this, but not be afraid to lead from the front and commit resources to improve the situation within the Town’s boundaries. While much of this is simple and straightforward, it will be a significant investment. By not doing anything, the resultant costs in damage, property loss, roadways, and surrounding areas will continue to degrade and decline. We pray there will not be a loss of life that might have been able to be prevented had an effort actually been made.

First, our local representatives need to draft the request. Second, Mr Feiner should go to the Westchester County Legislature and County Executive and New York State’s representatives, tell these representatives what’s needed and ask for a serious and sincere pledge to act. Not just talk about it, but to act. We’ve had decades of talk – we need action. Third, they need to draft a plan that will address the congested debris and the need for dredging in both the Bronx and Saw Mill rivers. It needs to begin from about the Pleasantville region all the way down to the end of each respective river to where they feed into. Fourth, once everybody is onboard with the effort, we should approach the federal government for additional funding and resources. All stops should be pulled out to make this happen. It needs to start on Hillside Avenue. If they act, we may finally get A Better Greenburgh.