Bonacic Flood Control Bill Passes Senate

State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mount Hope) announced today that his legislation, Senate bill 5514, was approved by the Senate with bipartisan support. The bill authorizes the Commission of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to make recommendations and to implement flood control measures.

Deeply saddened and troubled by the most recent flood disaster in Sullivan and Delaware Counties this morning, Senator Bonacic expressed his dismay at the continual refusal of the Assembly to take action on flood control. "This is a matter of life and death," stated Senator Bonacic. "How many more lives have to be lost in order for the Assembly to act?"

Senate bill 5514 is crucial given the annual flood occurrences in many communities and given the fact that existing flood management systems are not working, not to mention this latest tragedy.

"This is another disaster that is currently unfolding," continued Bonacic. According to the Times Herald Record, Search and rescue teams are staging at the Roscoe Fire Department to investigate reports of missing relatives after a flood damaged homes, roads and several bridges along the Beaverkill River.

Senator Bonacic said that yesterday, the Assembly passed legislation to study flood control measures. "Enough is enough. This issue has been studied for several years now. It is time to implement flood control--the Senate has acted to do so. Homes were washed out in Roscoe and Colchester, people are missing, lives lost, and the Assembly wants to remain in an ivory tower and study the problem," said Bonacic.

"The Assembly plan to study this matter is a slap in the face to all New Yorkers. Tax dollars are being wasted when they can be used to prevent further loss experienced by thousands of people adversely affected by floods year after year," concluded Senator Bonacic.