Become part of the Potsdam Flood Free Coalition

To the editor:

I am writing in connection with the Potsdam flooding on August 9th, which affected several neighborhoods in the village, and to inform residents about the Potsdam Flood Free Coalition, an organization that advocates for village, city and county governments to convince Potsdam’s 19th district to modernize its century-old infrastructure to meet the requirements of the 21st century. We invite everyone from the village or city of Potsdam who was affected by the flood to attend a meeting with representatives from the village, city and Potsdam Central School District on Monday, October 28th at 7 p.m. in the Potsdam Community Room Town Hall, 18 Elm, St., Potsdam.

The Potsdam flood not only destroyed private heating and hot water systems, electrical panels, and foundations, but also undermined Potsdam’s long-term economic development efforts. Furthermore, the flooded cellars in Potsdam are not isolated experiences, but part of a larger phenomenon that results from the village infrastructure no longer being able to function in the 21st century climate. This summer’s flood was preceded by a similar, although less destructive, flood in 2010 that affected residents of Clinton, Broad, Leroy, Waverly and Pleasant streets. The connection between these floods is that the water in both events came from the area of ​​the Potsdam Central School. In 2024, the parking lots of Potsdam Cantonal Hospital and Lawrence Avenue Medical Center also contributed to the amount of water that entered Potsdam’s storm sewers, spreading flooding to other parts of the city. As flooding increases with climate change, property values ​​are likely to decline, making it increasingly difficult to support the economic development that will ensure a prosperous future for residents of the city and village of Potsdam.

The Potsdam Flood Free Coalition’s goal is to bring together community members, business and institutional leaders, and government officials to not only address the costs of home repairs, but also to work on solutions that will mitigate future flooding. Although replacing aging infrastructure may be too expensive, other lower-cost solutions, such as restoring farmland to its natural habitat and installing detention basins to slow water flow, may be more feasible. However, it will require a multi-area approach to tackling systemic flooding and a future that will undoubtedly bring more large rainfall events.

For more information, visit the Potsdam Flood Free Coalition Facebook page. If you want, you can also join the organization. Then join us on October 28th.

Kevin D Smith
Potsdam flood protection coalition
Village of Potsdam