Flood commission’s tour shows how historic homes have been by rising water
By Kelle Velocci, Packet Media Group
Every time 3 or more inches of rain is forecasted, Millstone resident Nina Psihoules worries about the threat of floods at her home.
She’s not the only one, not only in Millstone, but in surrounding communities.
Wednesday, June 26 the Raritan and Millstone Rivers Flood Control Commission led a tour of historic Millstone to showcase areas commonly devastated by flooding and the preventative steps being taken to preserve these historic homes.
Residents, commission members and state Assembly members Donna Simon and Jack Ciattarelli attended.
The 10-town commission membership includes Somerset County government, Manville, Millstone, Rocky Hill, Somerville and South Bound Brook and the townships of Bridgewater, Franklin, Hillsborough, Montgomery.
Pictures were posted around the streets of Millstone to illustrate the severity of past flood conditions. Members of the tour could see the contrast between the flooding and where they were standing.
The tour group walked down North River Street, stopping at the Old Millstone Forge Blacksmith Shop. Chalk lines drawn across North River Street illustrated the water height levels from storms in 1971, 1999 and 2011.
R.J. Robison, a volunteer at the Blacksmith Shop, said the water at times has reached above standing height.
Crossing over Amwell Road, the tour ventured to a historic residential home designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Tour director Alison Whitman said that because the building experiences repeated flooding, the homeowners installed removable cabinetry on their first floor. Ms. Whitman said this allows the residents to relocate cabinets to the second floor to avoid destruction.
A red string tied to a tree stretched across the yard and ended above the front door of the house. The string, which was about five feet above the ground, illustrated the height of past flood waters.
Frank Jurewicz, commission chairman, said people began to understand the severity of flooding in these areas after Hurricane Floyd.
”People started getting hit more,” he said.
”Getting hit,” Mr. Jurewicz said, is when residents in Manville can’t drive down Main Street, and there is a loss of power.
Since Hurricane Floyd in 1999, Mr. Jurewicz said, Manville has been hit five times.
The first step in combating increased hits across all surrounding communities is the completion of a study initiated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 13 years ago.
The study is examining solutions to the flooding, including the installation of a levy, channel or a nonstructural “flood proofing” plan.
But the study hasn’t been completed because of a lack of federal funding. The study has received about $5 million of the $8 million needed. Mr. Jurewicz said the study is projected to be completed in December 2014, pending the continuation of funding.
However, the tentative date easily is subject to change. In 2012, there was no federal money allocated, and in 2011, the commission received less than $50,000.
Until the study is completed, the commission is applying for grants for smaller projects, such as cleaning out debris from the river to help it flow better. The commission also is looking into the installation of rain barrels and water gardens to slow runoff into the river.
”They are small steps private citizens can take,” Ms. Whitman said.
The commission also is working to increase awareness and education.
In the meantime, residents like Ms. Psihoules live in fear of the possibility of flooding. Ms. Psihoules said she has become so accustomed to the flooding she begins interviewing contractors before a major storm hits.
In 2011, her first floor was 6 feet under water, she said. In 2004, she received nearly 5 feet and in 2010, 1 foot.
Despite the frustration and fear, Ms. Psihoules said, “There is always a situation worse than mine. That’s how I get through it.”