Prepare for the Next Schoharie Valley Flood

When they ask you to evacuate, just pretend you are submarine crew basking on deck. The horn goes off and the loudspeaker says "DIVE! DIVE!"

There is so much water behind the Gilboa Dam when full that nothing downstream stands a chance if the dam fails. There is a minuscule chance that it may fail. Therefore, (1) you must be able to receive and understand the warning signs and the alarms, and (2) you must be ready to run for your life. None of that is an exaggeration. Millions of dollars have been spent on this problem since it was figured out in October of 2005. You cannot fool around with this issue if you live or work in the Schoharie Valley. The only real way to deal with the possibility of a dam break is to get out hours before it breaks.

  • First, you need to know about warning signs and alarms.
  • Second, you need to know what happens when it floods.
  • Third, you have to be ready to scram.

Irrespective of the dam, which will probably never fail, we know that yet another flood will occur in the Schoharie Valley. There will be mild floods and there will be severe floods. We just do not know exactly when, but there are reliable warning signs.

ALARMS
The best way to know what is going on is to pay close attention to broadcast and Internet information sources after a day or so of rain. Watch the weather. Commercial broadcast stations announce flood watches and flood warnings. This Web site pulls together a variety of real-time reports on the level of the Schoharie Creek. The National Weather Service constantly broadcasts weather reports and alerts, and operates a special warning service received by weather radios. These resources should put you on alert when trouble may be brewing. If none are available to you, find someone who has the resource and make an arrangement.

When water starts rising, Schoharie Creek flow rates are broadcast on the fire frequency every half hour, starting before flow reaches flood level. When it appears that flow will reach flood levels, telephone and door-to-door evacuation notices are given. If you have Internet phone service or a cell phone but no hard wire, you need to register. Keep reading. As flow increases, more and more areas are evacuated. Firefighters and telephone messages are used.

A siren warning system has been installed and tested. It will be used only for a dam failure so do not wait for that alarm when the water is rising.

Many people want to know how deep water will be if the dam breaks. No one knows for sure but it appears it will be 20 to 50 feet deep on the valley floor. We also do not know for sure how fast it will come.

WHAT HAPPENS
Flood water is filthy with manure, soil, animal corpses and everything else. Depending on its depth, it floods over and washes out roads and sometimes bridges. It maroons homes and people. It is a strong enough current to carry away mobile homes, porches, sheds and the like, pull down trees and push boulders. That's why the only way to deal with it is to go before it gets here.

BE READY
Preparation is not as simple as it seems and there is a lot of information here and elsewhere. You must be ready to take care of yourself and your loved ones. You cannot count on anyone else.

Get your supplies together, plan your evacuation routes and learn the warning procedures and shelter locations. Take all reasonable measures to prepare for the worse case. You may face various circumstances and locations. Consider loss of motor vehicle due to rising flood water, evacuation of mobility impaired family and friends, pets, storing vital records or duplicates out of harm's way, taking medicines, etc.

Information Pertinent to All Floods
Information Pertinent to Dam Failure
EMERGENCY RADIOS EVACUATION, ROUTES, SHELTERS MAPS PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (Following is provided by Schoharie County. Residents of other counties should contact their local Office of Emergency Management)

If you need assistance with evacuation and/or sheltering in case the Gilboa Dam fails, Schoharie County Emergency Management Office would like you to fill out the Special Needs Population Questionnaire distributed by mail to residents in the inundation area or available from the Schoharie County Website in Word and Pdf formats and return it to them at

Schoharie County Emergency Management Office
Special Needs Registry
PO Box 690, Schoharie, NY 12157

Your information will allow Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel to make evacuation and sheltering plans for those who need help.

For those needing shelter, contact the Schoharie County Emergency Management Office.

Advance planning is the best way to help yourself and help others help you! Filling out the questionnaire is a good way to begin your planning. -2/13/06

PETS
(Following is provided by Schoharie County. Residents of other counties should contact their local Office of Emergency Management)
Planning for the evacuation and care of pets and livestock in an emergency is important. Red Cross shelters do not allow pets. An Emergency animal Response Data Collection Form has been distributed to residents in the projected inundation area that should be completed and returned to the Schoharie County Emergency Management Office Gilboa Dam Animal Committee P.O. Box 690, 157 Suite 5 Depot Lane, Schoharie, NY 12157.

You may also download the form here in Word or Pdf format.

Additional planning information is available from the American Veterinary Medical Association in a pdf document entitled Saving the Whole Family