N.Y. to Host Flood Summit Feb. 28

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced that a summit for state and local officials will be held in Binghamton on Feb 28 to explore issues regarding the repetitive devastating flooding that has occurred in various regions of the state over the last three years, threatening the safety of residents and causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. “Last year, I made a promise to convene a summit to discuss a variety of issues associated with flooding, such as watershed management, state and local response activities and ways we can better protect our citizens and property,” said Gov. Spitzer. “Now is the appropriate time to begin these discussions, but the fact is that the state cannot do this alone. We must work together with local governments to seek best practices and develop an overall statewide strategy. That is why I have asked Michael Balboni, the state’s Deputy Secretary for Public Safety, to lead the Flood Summit and to begin the process by engaging state and local officials in an active discussion and explore solutions to this ongoing problem.” Over the last four years, nine flood events occurred in New York resulting in major federal disaster declarations. The cost of these events was staggering with nearly $500 million spent for emergency response and repairs to the public infrastructure alone. The summit will begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, and will run until approximately 1:15 p.m. It will be held at the Binghamton Regency Hotel at 1 Sarbro Square in Binghamton. The entire proceeding will be webcast over the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) Web site at http://www.semo.state.ny.us.