Volunteers help flood victim
Citizens change the course of stream and Whiteford’s life



RENSSELAERVILLE — After government agencies failed to act, citizens came to Sheila Whiteford’s rescue last Tuesday. Whiteford’s home, located near Potter Hollow Creek, has been flooded four times since 1997; she has made multiple phone calls and has sent letters and e-mails to several government agencies and organizations asking for help.

Bob Bolte, Steve Wood, and Ralph Borwegen, Rensselaerville area residents, came to Whiteford’s aid with a permit issued by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation and two bulldozers. They moved a considerable amount of dirt to redirect the stream’s path near Whiteford’s home, which had shifted in recent years and flooded after heavy June rains.
"This whole thing had to start and be blessed by the DEC," Rensselaerville Supervisor Jost Nicklesberg told The Enterprise this week. He had stated his concerns earlier about the flooding creek washing out Route 81, the evacuation route recently posted by the state.
The permit, issued by the DEC on Aug. 21, was to "restore the stream to its pre-flood conditions."

The DEC has issued over 800 permits to the nine counties flooded with the late June rains, most of them issued in Delaware County, DEC spokesperson Rick Georgeson said.
"We just issue the permit and make sure the environment is protected when the work is done," Georgeson explained earlier.
"Nicklesberg," Bolte said, "was certainly instrumental" throughout the process of obtaining the permit — including getting in touch with the proper people, obtaining signatures from Whiteford’s neighbors, and having DEC inspectors evaluate the work site.
"The work took about a day and a half," Bolte said. "The stream, which had moved over 75 to 80 feet in June, made a bend, and was cutting a chunk out of route 81."

Whiteford’s neighbor, Tony Vetrano, was also affected by the flooding and stated at a town board meeting in July that the stream, since coming over the bank and making a new channel, took 50 to 100 feet from his property.

The work was done at no public cost. Nicklesberg had estimated earlier that it would cost $50,000 to $100,000 to return Potter Creek to its original cost.

Whiteford greatly appreciates the efforts of volunteers Bolte, Wood, and Borwegen. While trying to find relief, Whiteford’s frustration mounted.
"Over a month ago, I sent a letter, an application, and pictures to the Department of Labor. I haven’t heard back from them. Rural Housing wouldn’t help, because my home is in a flood zone"Because we’re in Albany County, we’re ignored," Whiteford said.

She was referring to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) not designating Albany County for aid after the June flooding; neighboring Schoharie County was designated.

She told The Enterprise there is mud throughout her house and "everything is ruined."

Whiteford rebuilt her house in 1974 after it was destroyed by fire. Flooding didn’t occur, she said, until 20 years later. The house has flooded four times since 1997, Whiteford said earlier.

She had just finished paying out-of-pocket for tens of thousands of dollars in repairs from the last flood when June rains caused more flooding. The estimate for mud-removal alone was $4,000, she said. She is now living in a house nearby.
"These guys did it for nothing," Whiteford said of Bolte, Wood, and Borwegen.

Bolte, as well as providing one of the bulldozers and his expertise, was also instrumental in obtaining the necessary signatures from Whiteford’s neighbors. Before any work began, and before the DEC could grant the permit, Bolte had to have permission from surrounding residents.

Bolte said he saw a great deal of understanding and generosity from Whiteford’s neighbors throughout the process to obtain the permit and during the day and a half project.
"When we were working, people from Potter Hollow and Preston Hollow came up to us and gave us money. I didn’t want the money," he said. "If people would help people, this would be a better place," he added.

The money, Bolte said, was given to Whiteford.
Nicklesberg said he hasn’t seen a case of a homeowner having such extensive flood damage and said the process of helping out a member of the community was "gratifying."