Elmira – The Chemung County Emergency Management Office announced today three upcoming floodproofing training sessions for local code enforcement officers, contractors, and design professionals and anyone involved in flood mitigation and flood repairs. Three public informational workshops will also be offered to help residents learn how they can prevent future flood damage to their homes.

The 3 hour training sessions will be held:

• Feb. 18, 2010:  6-9pm at the Big Flats Community Ctr. 476 Maple St., Big Flats

• Feb. 22, 2010: Session 1, 9am-12pm, and Session 2, 1pm-4pm. at the Chemung County Health Complex, 103 Washington Street, Elmira, NY 14901. Choose either session, you only need to attend one three hour session.

Code enforcement officers will earn 3 hours of continuing education credits for attending this course.

The course will cover several floodproofing techniques and which are most useful for the different types of flooding, as well as the pros and cons of each floodproofing technique  including design issues and cost effectiveness. Each participant will be given a packet of resource materials that has specific information on the different types of floodproofing techniques, floodproofing materials, and steps which can be taken to mitigate flooding damage to a home.

This course is FREE, and open to all professionals who would like to know more about this subject. The class is made possible by a Hazard Mitigation Grant through the New York State Emergency Management Office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Special thanks are extended to Janet Thigpen, Flood Mitigation Specialist, Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board, for her assistance in this project.

The instructors, local Code Enforcement Officers Tom Skebey (Town of Horseheads) and Pete Rocchi (Town of Southport), helped designed this course based on their knowledge from attendance at a week long course at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Click here to download a Microsoft Word interactive version of the registration form.
Click here to download a pdf. version of the registration form.

Three Public Information Workshops will also be held on this topic for any resident in Chemung County or surrounding areas. These FREE one and half to two hour sessions will inform residents on the most economical and efficient ways to reduce flooding damage to their homes. Printed materials will be given out, and included will be a list of design professionals and contractors who have completed the three hour course Introduction to Floodproofing. Pre-registration is not required.

The Public Workshops will be offered at the following times and locations:

Feb 22, 2010- 7:00pm at the Big Flats Community Center, 476 Maple St., Big Flats
Feb 23, 2010- 7:00pm at the Southport Town Hall, 1139 Pennsylvania Ave, Elmira
Feb 24, 2010- 7:00pm at the Horseheads Town Hall, 150 Wygant Rd., Horseheads

For more information contact Kristen Card, Chemung County EMO/Safety at 607-737-2095.