On Monday, October 15 U.S. Representative Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley) and officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a press conference to unveil a flood prevention plan that will target areas along the Esopus Creek, the Rondout Creek, and the Wallkill River. The plan is the result of the widespread flooding that has affected the region since April 2005.

"We're somewhat hopeful, somewhat optimistic," says Kerhonkson resident Patricia Meoli. "We realize that it takes a long time for things to be put into place."

Meoli and her husband, Pete, were victims of flooding in both April of 2005 and April of 2007. They've lived in the Carlo Drive neighborhood for three decades and had never experienced such bad flooding prior to 2005.

The Meolis attended the press conference, which was held on Mulvin Drive in Lake Katrine in the yard of a resident who has also experienced severe flood damage. In the last three years the residents along Mulvin Drive have witnessed the erosion of their yards into the Esopus Creek.

Local legislators and town supervisors also attended the conference, to show support and concern for the issue.

According to Eugene Brickman, the New York district deputy planning chief for the Army Corps of Engineers, a comprehensive analysis for the area could be done by March. Afterwards, flood victims could receive aid, provided in part by the community, and matched by the house appropriations committee.

"I've got my fingers crossed," says Meoli, "but in our own development we had to fight like hell, and they finally came down and cleaned out our storm drains for the first time in nineteen years."

The flooding this past April doubled the area's average rainfall for the month in the span of only twenty-four hours, and after the rains stopped more than a dozen local roadways were closed, causing Wawarsing's town supervisor James Dolaway to declare a state of emergency.

"It is a sound I will never forget," says Pat Meoli, when describing the rush of water and the collapse of several of her neighbors' basements. She, along with her husband and neighbors, was evacuated from her Kerhonkson home in the middle of the night by their local fire department. In total, the couple has spent nearly $155,000 repairing their home since the initial flooding in 2005.

"We've heard all kinds of promises," Meoli laments, "but I do expect to see some evidence from the Army Corps of Engineers — some sort of a plan in place, and I'm hoping that our town officials will try to alleviate some of the problems we've been facing before next spring."

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