The floods of 2006 and 2011 will never be forgotten in the Southern Tier of NY but for what reason? The events themselves were tragedies on a scale few new to this community like myself have ever seen but I am left with the nagging question of what is to come in the future. People in this area have now experienced two so called 100 year floods within a span of five years which must mean something is changing or we have seriously underestimated what a 100 year flood is.

As our communities try and recover from this latest disaster, the question of the sustainability of some parts of our community comes to mind. Are there areas around the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers that should not be used for residential or commercial development? Should the county and towns enact ordinances that forcibly bar this development to ensure when flooding happens it does not have such a severe impact on the area’s economic prospects? Certainly I would be very hesitant to rebuild the neighborhoods that seem to be prone to constant flooding and devastation each time the rivers and creeks in this area overflow their banks. I think that rather than providing funds to rebuild in these areas, we should be helping businesses and citizens relocate to safer locations within the area where they don’t have to live with this constant threat. Once we get people away from the most flood prone areas, turn them into parks, wildlife conservancies or some other natural use where flooding doesn’t have as great an impact.

Of course the resistance to these type of relocation assistance programs is predictable given that peoples’ lives are wrapped around their homes and the memories they have from being in them. But many people having lived through these disasters twice now must ask themselves if the suffering is truly worth it. Is it worth losing everything each time the river floods or is it better to move to a safer area and start new traditions and establish new memories. From what I have seen here over the past week, I think I would choose to move if someone were willing to help with the relocation.