Young Agents,

Previously, I just sent to all of you a clip from 69 News regarding the past flooding of the Delaware River. This issue is near and dear to my heart. My parents home that I grew up in was destroyed THREE times over the flooding of the Delaware River over mis-management of the NY Reservoirs, not because it rained more than usual or the other goofy responses these poor homeowners and businessowners had gotten from the NY Reservoir and other misguided individuals. It took over 4 years to get the real answers. I will be sending you all a message that was received by the Delaware River Basin Commission, they want to hear from anyone that has anything to say or comment on the ideas of how to manage the NY Reservoirs submitting written comments or proposed regulations to implement a Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP) for operation of the three New York CityDelaware Basin reservoirs. They are extending the submission through to March 3, 2008.

Okay YAC's, I know we all have an insurance issue that tugs on us more than another, obviously this is one of mine. I would like to discuss this issue at our February meeting to see if we as the Young Agents Council could come up with something here, even if it is a comment, an idea I would like to toss this issue around a bit. Perhaps this word could get out to our insurance policy holders so that they know we DO care and we ARE trying to take action.

I can definitely forward my own comments to DRBC with regards to the devastation that ruined many homes and businesses. I lived with my parents for over 20 years and not one flood. 2004, 2005, and 2006 all three years my parents home was flooded out. I saw more then the devastation of my parents home from the floods. I saw a township trying to pull together when not all the answers were there. The flooding of one's home does not just mean the loss of the home you worked so hard for, the home that comforts you and your family, but the effects such losses takes on a person, a family, a business (your livelihood).

My brother, Michael Sikora sent in a very good comment which I will share with all of you:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mikes Sikora <sikoramike@gmail.com>
Date: Feb 4, 2008 4:47 PM
Subject: FFMP comments
To: paula.schmitt@drbc.state.nj.us
Please do everything and anything you can to resolve the issue related to unregulated water releases by NYC reservoirs. My parents lost at least 3 plus years of their lives repetitively rebuilding their home three times. In reality this was stealing my entire families lives from directly affecting my parents, my sister who opened her home (she purchased between floods) to her parents, her husband and son ALL sacrificed to make it work the best they could. The first flood had my parents living with my sister, her husband (4 ADULTS) plus 4 animals in a one bedroom apartment for 6 plus months.

My parents going through this trauma rarely if ever visited their first grand child and sought stress counseling, I will call it this to keep some privacy. (due to the incredible stress) The most horrible thing of all is the fact that this could happen THREE TIMES!!! My parents spent 5% of their lives homeless due to things outside their control. When a huge city like NYC with its huge resources can not or is allowed to easily escape what should be MANDATED on them to control the water flow to a reasonable level. It shows some serious flaws in our democracy. Does Goliath always prevail?

I know everyone who was affected by the THREE floods has horror stories and that is not the intention of my email as I have hardly even cracked the surface of the story and really would struggle to put it all together in words. I have been to a meeting in one township and these flood victims should never have to experience such a loss of priceless time again.

I urge you to please do ALL you can to assist and force mandates on NYC to put some REALISTIC controls on the reservoirs. This is not something we should take lightly because it goes far beyond $$$$. My parents lost 5%++ of their lives to the floods, my sister and I 10%+, my son lost 75% of his life and time with his grandparents to 3 floods..

Sincerely,
Michael K. Sikora

Thanks everyone for your time.