October 17, 2006

Contact: Ian Michaels (718) 595-6600

PRESS ADVISORY

DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd and Local Officials to Recognize DEP Workers Who Assisted Delaware and Sullivan Counties During Flood

New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Emily Lloyd will be joined by local officials to recognize the efforts of over 150 employees of the DEP Bureau of Water Supply and DEP Police who assisted people in Delaware and Sullivan counties during the severe flooding in June even as their own homes and families were affected by the disaster.

The DEP employs almost 1,000 residents of the watershed region of 2,000 square miles.  During the June floods, over 100 DEP Police officers were deployed to command centers in Delhi, Walton and Beerston to assist with rescues and to coordinate with county emergency management personnel.  DEP Police also deployed scuba divers, a helicopter, boats, all terrain vehicles, vehicles with light towers, rescue trucks and 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

DEP road crews and machinery helped to keep roads open near the Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs.  At least six DEP dump trucks, two road graders, two back hoes, a paving machine, a pavement roller and a bucket truck were deployed in the regional recovery effort.

The DEP also helped provide drinking water in Walton that was trucked in from New York City, and worked with crews from the New York City Department of Sanitation to help haul away debris.  Other DEP personnel from New York City (who will not be at the October 19 event) assisted with pumping out flood waters in areas such as Sidney and Walton.