Rainy weather tests flood mitigation effort in Elmsford
Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner says the town and the village of Elmsford recently removed an abandoned bridge over the Saw Mill River that became an obstruction and contributed to flooding in a Elmsford neighborhood.
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Residents in a flood-prone neighborhood in Westchester are waiting to see if recent flood mitigation efforts will actually help them.
Mario Oliva is one of many residents on Babbitt Court in Elmsford who have had to raise their homes to prevent constant flooding.
"Because the entire first floor we had to renovate," Oliva says.
To try and address the issue, Greenburgh town supervisor Paul Feiner says the town and the village of Elmsford recently removed an abandoned bridge over the Saw Mill River.
Over time, Feiner says it became an obstruction that contributes to flooding in the Babbitt Court area.
"It's going to make it a little better. If there's a small storm, people may not get flooded," Feiner says.
Feiner says Monday's rainy weather is the first real test of the work. So, News 12 asked residents on the street if they think the effort is making a difference.
"Anything they do is better than nothing," says resident Franco.
"[Flooding] used to happen more often. You know, they have taken steps to minimize the damage," Oliva says.
Feiner admits removing the bridge won't solve the problem entirely, but he believes it's a step in the right direction.
"Because if you move a bridge and it helps a little bit...then I feel like we're going to start making a dent," Feiner says.
Feiner says he's also considering an annual maintenance plan to help further reduce flooding in the area.
"I want people to know that we're going to keep trying until hopefully we make life better for all the residents."
