Thank you to all the residents that attended our flood awareness gathering.
A special thank you to Congressman Pascrell and Senator Codey
for sending representatives from your administration.

In addition, we would also like to give a special thanks to Mayor Kulick,
the Little Falls Town Council and the Police Department
for all of your assistance and support!!!

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Dear Friend:

Today, as you meet to express your unity on the flooding problems in Little Falls, NJ, I assure you that I share your concerns. As New Jersey’s Senior Member on the Energy and Water Resources Subcommittee I have made it my mission to fight budget cuts which have crippled the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ ability to undertake flood control projects. I will continue to work hard to involve the federal government in working towards solutions for the continued flooding in the Passaic River Basin, and ensuring that local governments have the tools necessary to prepare and respond to an emergency.

In 1999, as Hurricane Floyd ripped through the region, some of the most significant flooding was along the Peckman River. In fact, that year’s flooding unfortunately took a life. Following these tragic events, I engaged the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to come up with flood control efforts along the Peckman.

After preliminary studies showed that flooding in the area was enough of a problem to initiate a project on the river, the USACE has initiated a feasibility study to come up with construction recommendations. I have fought hard every year to have the project included in the federal budget, winning a total of $850,000, matched by the state. Currently, the Corps is continuing this study with $150,000 appropriated for fiscal year 2006. While this is not enough, I am happy that Congress saw the potential of this project, and restored some funding after President Bush failed to include it in his preliminary budget. This year, the President has again failed to include the Peckman River in his budget request, and I assure you that I will work with my colleagues to restore funding to the effort.

Following last year’s devastating flooding throughout the state, Governor Codey initiated a Delaware River Flood Task Force to recommend projects which would alleviate flooding in the area. I immediately pointed out that flooding was particularly devastating along the Passaic River basin as well, and called on Governor Codey to create a similar Task Force for the Passaic. When the draft report on the Delaware was issued this year, I renewed my call to Governor Corzine to institute a Passaic River Flood Task Force. We need to come up with plans for a comprehensive solution to flooding in the area.

I have also worked hard to ensure that first responders have federal support to ensure their ability to deal with disaster. I authored the FIRE Act to ensure the federal government supported fire departments across the nation with grants to assist in equipment acquisition. In 2002, and again in 2003 Little Falls received FIRE Grants in the amount of $232,929 and $177,420 respectively.

I assure you that I will continue to work with the Mayor, Township Council, State Legislators, as well as our state and federal agencies to protect your safety, and to invest in sensible flood mitigation projects.

                                                                                                            Sincerely,
                                                                                                            Bill Pascrell, Jr.
                                                                                                            Member of Congress

April showers reminder of damage rain can bring
Sunday, April 2, 2006

By KAREN KELLER
HERALD NEWS

LITTLE FALLS - Mother Nature provided what one resident called a cinematic edge to a flood-awareness march Saturday afternoon.

The area's first April shower in this flood-weary township served as the backdrop to 50 protesters' complaints that the state and federal government aren't giving aid to curb Little Falls' flooding problem.

A drizzle began at noon, just as the protesters set out from the Little Falls train station to Town Hall.

"It gives a Hollywood effect," said Mary Jane Airel,who lives near the Passaic River.

The flood-awareness march was the township's first, according to Mayor Eugene Kulick,and was held on the anniversary of Little Falls' two last major floods, one in 2005, the other in 1984.

Protester Carol Mosior said the flood last year caused $100,000 worth of damage to her home, and caused her flood insurance rates to double, to $2,000 a year.

"We lost everything," she said, adding the washer, dryer, furnace, air conditioning and hot water units were all ruined.

Mosior called the government's unwillingness to fund flood-prevention mechanisms "a sin."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued several reports over the past few decades on what can be done to curb flooding of the Passaic River, including the $2 billion construction of a tunnel that would divert overflow to the lower Passaic River or to the Newark Bay, said Hans Prell, chairman of the town's flood board.

But not a single federal or state cent has to date been earmarked to carry out any of the projects detailed in the reports, said Prell, a salesman of decorative paving stones who remembers rowing his date to the prom after a flood in the 1960s.

Charles Van Winkle, a marcher Saturday who has been a Little Falls resident since he was born there in 1932, remembers federal engineers studying Passaic River floods during his childhood.

"The Army Corps of Engineers were surveying the river back in the 1930s," he said, "and they still haven't done anything."

Kulick suggested to marchers that in the absence of immediate large-scale fiscal aid, the town ought to look to other short-term measures that could help prevent flooding, such as clearing the river of debris.

But marchers said that in addition to protesting the lack of public flood aid, they also hoped their short walk would raise awareness among local residents who don't live in the 600 Little Falls homes located in the flood plain.

Flooding increases taxes for everybody -- tax bases vanish along with homes that are destroyed or bought by the federal government.

Cleanups after a flood are also expensive, Kulick reminded marchers.

"I hate to tell you, but taxes are going up," he said. Last year municipal taxpayers footed a $117,000 flood cleanup tab for the April deluge, Kulick said.

Taxes related to flooding will edge up by $750,000 this year if the mayor's 2006 budget is approved, said Councilman Paul Huggins. It includes the purchase of the town's fourth water pump station, which would cost $750,000, Huggins said.

But the pump would just be another stopgap measure.

The rain stopped after half an hour -- just as the group moved into Town Hall for refuge, ink bleeding from signs with messages like "River Goes Up, Taxes Go Up."

"How ironic is this?" said Councilwoman Pam Porter, of the drizzle.

Reach Karen Keller at (973) 569-7158 or KellerK@northjersey.com.

Personal Reflection...

You know we are going to succeed this time!!!
Never before have I seen such a dedicated group of people.

A year after the floods, we are still determined and going strong.
We've raised a lot of awareness and people are listening.

Keep up the momentum, it may be a tough road, but you have to keep fighting.
See you all at the next meeting.