Flood prevention project begins at Jeffrey Court

Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17)  was in Clarkstown on Tuesday to tout new federal funding for a project that will protect a neighborhood  prone to severe flooding.

As previously  reported by the RCT, Lawler, in cooperation with Senator Charles Schumar and Kirsten Gillibrand, has secured  $2.5 million in federal funding to construct a levee at Jeffrey Court to protect homeowners from overflow from the Hackensack River and the crippling cost of flood insurance.

“It’s been getting worse” said Nancy Lynch, a decades long resident of the neighborhood who told the RCT that severe flooding has become more frequent in recent years, while sharing a photograph of young child ridding a river tube over the submerged street during a previous flood in 1984.

Local homeowners like Lynch had petitioned Lawler for help dealing with floods that had left residents contending with over five feet of overflow and necessitating evacuation by canoe in some extreme cases.

Alejandra Conde, who had been in communication with the Congressman’s office during the process of securing the  funds, expressed gratitude that the town can now begin implementing a solution to a problem that has long plagued local homeowners. 

“All the residents (of Jeffrey Court) have message chain for every time it rains and floods, hopefully we’re going to have more positive comments in our text chain, ”  said Conde.

$2.1 million in federal funds  will be spent constructing a levee at Jeffrey Court, with funds also being used to explore alternate options to reduce flooding

Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehman explained that in addition to the levee the town plans to recondition and expand an existing drainage basin behind the neighborhood and possibly cut into the riverbank itself, widening the river and allowing more space for excess rainfall. The exact nature of the project remains fluid, pun intended, as the Army Corps of Engineers waits to complete a survey that will determine the best possible options for preventing overflow. Local officials are hopeful that once the survey is complete, construction on a new levee can begin next year.