The historic Village of Owego on the Susquehanna River in New York was devastated in 2011 when Tropical Storm Lee flooded 75% of the village in a 500-year storm. Despite most of the village being in the floodplain, they had no certified floodplain manager nor the resources to deal with the level of disaster that struck Owego. Thus the small group, Residents of the Village of Owego, formed with a mission to create a safer, more sustainable community. They now work with the NYS Climate Smart Community program and are researching funding opportunities to safeguard their homes. Having documented the process of elevating homes and sharing that information with the state Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), they want to save the unique historic community by elevating everyone.
Julie Nucci and her partner at home. Photo: Julie Nucci
Resident Julie Nucci, whose 200-year old home was ruined, rebuilt, and raised, knows the toll flooding can take and she works to see that her community never goes through it again. Appointed the Flood Resiliency Coordinator for Owego, an unpaid position, she knows that small governments do not have the resources to deal with the level of disaster that struck Owego, so she’s filling the void. Nucci partners with community planner and climate action specialist Jayme Breschard to work with state policies, the Clean Water Act, Risk Rating 2.0 flood insurance changes, and the Climate Smart Community program to ensure that the Village of Owego stays a safe, sustainable home. Mitigation projects by the county to improve drainage and reduce flood risk in the Apalachin Creek watershed in Owego are on-going. Replacing culverts and restoring streambeds are intended to protect homes and businesses, enhance water flow, and strengthen community infrastructure against future weather emergencies.
Owego Flooding from Tropical Storm Lee in 2011, Creative Commons