THANK YOU Emily Lloyd and New York City DEP
16 September 2011
Although many people are criticizing the City of New York in regards to the Gilboa Dam and recent floods, I say THANK YOU for significantly strengthening the dam and installing the flood warning system. The city’s DEP under former commissioner Emily Lloyd spent millions of dollars and unquestionably saved many lives on August 28th. My neighborhood evacuated when the dam siren went off. And the dam held even though the water was much deeper than in 1996; they had calculated that only a few inches more than ’96 would have broken the dam.
THANK YOU, to the DEP and Emily Lloyd who I beat on mercilessly a few years ago, and Paul Costa and Paul Rush and all the other many people involved. YOU SAVED OUR LIVES.
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– Lester Hendrix
Homeless in Schoharie NY
Second evacuation
7 September 2011
The Schoharie Valley is evacuating again today. I cannot give much information because my computers and data went under in the 29 August flood. We had four feet of water in the first floor and lived in a motel with our two cats for nine days. Yesterday we moved in with a cousin of Anne. We do not have cell phone service here and while we do have Internet, I am working on an unfamiliar “netbook” subcompact with my trifocalss rahter than computer glasses.
At least we survived. Home is bady damaged and the insurance company said my truck is totaled.
Tags: flood
Evacuations start as Irene brings flooding and road closures to county
28 August 2011
The weather service has sharply increased its forecast of how high the dam water level will rise. A “major flood” is projected at this time.
Steady rain overnight created numerous flooding situations in Schoharie County this morning. Road closings and power failures have occurred. The Schoharie Reservoir is filling rapidly and some areas are evacuating.
Fire, highway, and other emergency crews are on duty responding to a wide range of problems. Search and rescue personnel have been called in.
Residents in all flood-prone areas might well evacuate at this time. Be prepared for power failure and rising water.
The condition of the Gilboa Dam is discussed in the post below.