A number of residents whose homes were inundated after the fast moving and powerful storm on August 11 attended last Tuesday's Village of Great Neck trustees' meeting to pour out their frustrations at the damage done by the flooding and their complaints about the village's response to their plights.

Mayor Ralph Kreitzman expressed concern for the residents who were adversely affected by the storm and stated that after the flooding that occurred in some areas of the village last year, a committee had been established to study the problem areas and recommend engineering solutions wherever possible. The committee, chaired by trustee Jeffrey Bass, is composed of the village engineer and other department heads who have prioritized areas that need attention. The mayor clarified, however, that the village is not liable for damage suffered by individual homeowners.

He also stated that the storm committee has been working with Nassau County legislator Judi Bosworth to accelerate Nassau County's capital project to correct perennial stormwater problems that plague the Middle Neck Road, Old Mill Road, and Piccadilly Road intersections. Ms. Bosworth confirmed that when she came into office, she called Nassau County Department of Public Works about the timetable for mitigating the flooding problems. She said that there are many contributing factors to the problem and that the solution will have to be multi-faceted and comprehensive in order to be successful. She added that originally the timetable for the work was for a 2012 completion date; however, she has been strongly urging that the problem be addressed sooner and has received word that the project has been moved ahead a year. It is slated to cost $3.5 million.

The village has also stepped up cleaning catch basins and recently purchased a video camera that is designed for checking lines to make sure that they are not clogged.

The village board has also passed local ordinances for new home construction that requires sufficient on-site drainage to contain 8 inches of rainfall in rear yards and 5 inches in front yards. Mayor Kreitzman also noted that some homes were built years ago in boggy areas with insufficient drains and while many drains have been upgraded, there is more work to do. He said, "We haven't given up."

Trustee Edna Guilor-Segal suggested that homeowners in areas that have unresolved flooding problems have advisory input into the meetings of the storm committee.

None of these statements appeared to console the irate homeowners who attended the meeting and whose homes suffered extensive and expensive damage. The reoccurring phrase was, "What you're doing... isn't enough!"

One man said, "Put yourself in my place. I was at work and got a call from my wife who is pregnant and who was frightened by the rising water!"

Another resident thought the village should give tax abatements to residents who incurred damages from the flooding.

On the day of the storm, according to public works superintendent, Louis Massaro, there were five employees on duty. He said, "We are sorry, but we just couldn't be everywhere."

You may visit www.fema.gov to learn more about the federal flood insurance program, view a current flood map of your neighborhood and find out if you are considered at high risk, moderate risk or low risk for flooding. The cost of a premium depends on your risk. The maximum coverage is $250,000 for structural damage and $100,000 for the contents of your home. Coverage begins 30 days after the purchase date.