SIDNEY - With summer storm season underway and memories of devastating floods still fresh for many residents, local officials are continuing efforts to revive a long-planned flood mitigation project after federal funding was unexpectedly withdrawn.
The future of the village of Sidney culvert project remains uncertain following a decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deny an extension request and terminate funding for the project, which is designed to reduce flooding risks.
The project would install large culverts intended to improve drainage and allow floodwaters to recede more quickly during major storm events. Local officials have long viewed the effort as a critical piece of Sidney’s broader flood mitigation strategy.
Last week, U.S. Senator Charles “Chuck” Schumer visited Sidney and toured the proposed project site alongside local leaders. Schumer urged FEMA to reverse its decision and restore funding, arguing that preventative investments now could reduce future disaster costs and better protect residents and property.
The culvert project was funded through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and builds on years of flood recovery and mitigation efforts in Sidney. Following major floods in 2006 and 2011, more than 100 flood-damaged properties in the Lower River Street neighborhood were acquired and demolished through federally supported buyout programs.
Project delays stemmed in part from the village’s inability to front construction costs while awaiting federal reimbursement. Delaware County later stepped in to manage the grant on the village’s behalf, but additional permitting requirements led officials to seek a second extension from FEMA.
That request was denied last year, effectively halting the project despite years of planning and previous federal investment.
Local officials maintain that the culverts would play an important role in reducing flood impacts by providing an outlet for stormwater during major weather events. Supporters argue that completing the project would strengthen protections already put in place and help prevent future losses.
Since the devastating floods of 2006 and 2011, Schumer has helped secure federal disaster aid, temporary housing for displaced residents, flood protection funding for Sidney, and economic development investments in Delaware County. His efforts also helped unlock nearly $7 million in FEMA mitigation funding that enabled the buyout of more than 100 flood-prone properties in Sidney’s Lower River Street neighborhood, while additional federal support helped retain more than 950 jobs through the relocation of Amphenol Aerospace.
As village and county leaders continue to press for reconsideration, the project’s future now rests on whether federal officials agree to restore funding before another major storm tests Sidney’s flood defenses.
