Westchester areas in and around Scarsdale could receive proactive storm help if the region's congressman has his way.
When Hurricane Sandy tore through the Lower Hudson Valley last year, government assistance was chiefly after-the-fact—roads were cleared, and power companies were urged to swiftly restore power.
But Eliot Engel (D-Westchester/Bronx) asked his House colleagues this week to allot the Army Corps of Engineers time and resources to mitigate future flooding in the region.
"Residents all over the region experienced severe damage from Sandy," he said. "These same regions suffered damage from Hurricane Irene just one year before. We have to be prepared for the likelihood of more storm damage in the near future."
"We must give the Army Corps, the States and the local governments the resources that they need to protect our communities," Engel added. "There are many rivers, streams and small creeks all throughout my district, and these pose a constant flooding threat during heavy rains. Surges caused by huge storms can be devastating. We need the Army Corp to speed up the continuing mitigation projects throughout the district—the Bronx River Restoration Project, dredging of the full Eastchester Creek, Sound Shore and Mamaroneck flood mitigation, etc.—because these project will go a long way towards protecting our residents, their homes and our communities."
In the Lower Hudson Valley alone, Sandy claimed four lives. The tempest also knocked out power to 2.4 million New Yorkers.
