Delhi NY – Eight months after the third round of devastating flooding in two years, the Delaware River Basin Commission is ready for public input on a draft flood mitigation action plan.  The first of four hearings is Thursday night in Delhi.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) calls the mitigation study the logical progression after what has happened the past two years.

“You could spend a certain amount of money to prevent flooding.  If you don’t, you are going to spend a lot more to deal with the consequence of the flood.  So, it is economical.  It is economical to spend the money up front to prevent the flooding.”

Upper Delaware Council head William Douglass says the hearing will be an opportunity to get to know the people involved in the study. “We’re encouraging as many people to come as they can … a chance to interact with the people that are involved on the board.”

The Delaware River Basin Interstate Flood Mitigation Task Force was assembled in October 2006. It is comprised of 32 members from a geographically diverse array of government agencies (legislative, executive, federal, state and local), private businesses and not-for-profit organizations. The group has identified a total of 44 consensus recommendations for a proactive, sustainable, and systematic approach to flood damage reduction.

Tonight’s hearing is in the Senator Charles D. Cook County Office Building, Board of Supervisors Room, 111 Main Street, in Delhi.  A ‘poster session’ begins at 6 p.m. with the two-hour hearing to begin at 6:30 p.m.

The next hearing will be next Tuesday, February 13, 7 p.m., at the Hugel Science Center, Lafayette College, High Street, Easton.  Additional hearings are scheduled in New Jersey and Delaware.

The draft report may be previewed at www.state.nj.us/drbc/Flood_Website/taskforce/index.htm.