Kingston to Host Program on Lessons Learned from Hurricane Irene

After the devastation and heavy flooding caused by Hurricane Irene in South Brunswick, the Kingston Greenways Association will host a program on March 14 discussing the lessons learned from the storm.

Jim Waltman, Executive Director of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, will speak about what residents can do to reduce flooding and flood damage in future storms through changes in mindset, behaviors, and policies. 

"By any measure, Hurricane Irene was a monster. Like much of New Jersey, our watershed was hammered by rain, wind, power outages and flooding," Waltman said via release. "Damages from flooding occurred in almost every corner of our 265-square-mile watershed and in all 26 towns within our region of central New Jersey. The boroughs were hit particularly hard, with large portions of Manville, Millstone and Hightstown under literally feet of water. 

"The Millstone River and Stony Brook both reached all-time record high levels in various places, each merging with the Delaware & Raritan Canal for a portion of their journeys, and numerous lakes spilled over their banks. Our hearts go out to the thousands of people who lost property, businesses or, worst of all, loved ones in this storm."

, downed hundreds of trees and left most of the township without power for days, with some not having power restored for over a week.

Before joining the Watershed Association, Waltman served as director of the refuges and wildlife program for the Wilderness Society, in Washington D.C.  He also represented the Society on issues relating to the National Wildlife Refuge System, Alaska public lands, endangered species, and other wildlife issues.   

The Hill newspaper named Waltman one of Washington’s “top lobbyists” on natural resources issues and the National Journal credited him with “leading the charge” on the successful campaign against oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

During the program on March 14, Waltman will discuss the impact of developments built near streams and wetlands, which damage clean water supplies and destroy important wildlife habitats. He will also discuss how these developments dramatically increase the risk of flood damage to local homes and businesses.

 will be held on March 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the , located at 6 Heathcote Road in Kingston.