Photo Courtesy of Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato’s Office
Senator Addabbo (far r.) and Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato (second from r.) donated the equipment on Friday.
By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) on Friday presented the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department with a high-volume water pump, strainer, and hose to help the agency address flooding issues that have plagued the community for years.
“When there is high-tide you can barely walk let alone drive your car through the streets of Hamilton Beach. This pump will assist in making the streets safer and protecting our homes,” WHBVFD Deputy Chief Nick Spinelli said.
The pump includes a large, 2.9-gallon fuel tank delivering a six-hour run time, according to Addabbo and Pheffer Amato.
“This water pump will benefit the entire Hamilton Beach community by helping the fire department make the streets safer for drivers and pedestrians during times of high tide and flooding,” Addabbo noted. “I am hopeful this pump and other upcoming mitigation projects will further address the issue of flooding in Hamilton Beach.”
Pheffer Amato added, “The need to stay safe with persistent flooding is of the utmost importance in the Hamilton Beach community. Preparedness is key, and this water pump will go a long way in ensuring we are ready at a moment’s notice.”
Community leaders appreciated the donation.
“The pump will be used to clear the water from the areas that are most affected during times of extremely high tides. While this is not a final solution to our flooding issue, it will make the roads passable quicker,” New Hamilton Beach Civic Association President Roger Gendron said. “The civic will work with the West Hamilton Beach Volunteers to come up with a plan of action. Hopefully this is just the first step in getting a permanent solution to stop the ever-increasing tidal flooding communities all along Jamaica Bay have been experiencing at a much greater rate.”
Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton also thanked the elected officials on Friday “for their recognition that improving resiliency in our neighborhoods is not just about the ‘big’ multimillion-dollar projects. We thank them for knowing that, from their first-hand experience gained from regularly dealing with the community’s concerns, smaller projects also matter.”
