August 28, 2011

CONTACT:

Michael Saucier  (718) 595-6600

Update on Condition of Gilboa Dam in Schoharie County 

Due to concerns about flooding downstream from the Gilboa Dam from record rainfall in excess of National Weather Service predictions, DEP has triggered an Emergency Action Plan and has alerted county and local officials to take the precautionary steps of evacuating the flood zone.  Individuals who can hear the dam sirens should  move to higher ground by following the posted evacuation routes by the county as soon as possible. Though we do not believe that the dam is in danger of imminent failure, higher-than-predicted amounts of rain coupled with the loss of electronic monitoring devices due to the storm have increased the potential risk to communities below the dam. DEP has sent additional personnel to the site to better evaluate the condition and we will report back as soon as possible.  In the meantime, those in the affected areas please take every precaution to move to safer ground.