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“Our community here in South Queens has been plagued by persistent flooding for far too long,” said Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach).
By Forum Staff
The New Hamilton Beach Civic Association is set to host a rally later this month to demand immediate action to combat increasing coastal flooding throughout Hamilton Beach and parts of Howard Beach.
The event has been scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26, 2 p.m., at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy (158-20 101st St., Howard Beach, NY 11414).
According to the civic, in May 1965, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started construction on the Stamford Hurricane Protection Barrier. It took four years to complete at a total cost of $14.5 million; as of September 2011, the project had prevented $38.4 million in flood and coastal storm damages. The barrier was able to hold back an 11-foot storm surge caused by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, helping to prevent an additional $25 million dollars in damage to businesses and homes.
That same year, the civic continued, the USACE completed an additional study after the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Donna in 1960 and a nor’easter in March 1962. The corps sent Congress three proposed plans for the perimeter of Jamaica Bay which included recommendations for structural improvements that would provide permanent protection from persistent coastal flooding.
To date, none of these recommendations have been acted upon, the NHBCA lamented on Tuesday.
“We hope to pack the room and let our voices be heard as we demand the USACE to forget the study of a massive floodgate project that will stretch from Sandy Hook, N.J. to Breezy Point, N.Y., (roughly 5 miles) and bring back the perimeter plan that would see floodgates and flood protection around Jamaica Bay which will go further to protect our community,” the civic wrote in a statement.
The NHBCA has received support from community leaders.
“The Army Corps of Engineers needs to devise a plan that protects all New Yorkers, not just the lucky few,” said City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park).
“Each year that passes and nothing is done, the residents of Hamilton Beach and other coastal areas of my district remain in harm’s way if another storm like Sandy — or worse — were to reach our shores,” State Sen. Joe Addabbo, jr. (D-Howard Beach) added.
“In our district there are over 6,200 residences located in the current flood plain. Those homes and the people who live in them deserve protection from tidal flooding. More and more frequently they are being negatively impacted by smaller tidal events, not just the catastrophic ones like [Hurricane] Irene and Sandy,” said Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton. “The perimeter plan would go a long way to provide that needed protection.”
