Photos of the cleanup effort in Conklin Conklin (WSYR-TV) - Nearly all of the Binghamton area is still recovering from flooding that ravaged it two weeks ago. For some communities – such as Conklin – the kind of devastation they had already endured in 2006 was not expected in the second round.
Debra Haughton, for example, has returned to her home. “I lost everything. I mean everything,” she said.
Her neighbors are left with an enormous rebuilding project.
“The devastation, when you open the doors, oh my God, here we go,” said Bill Treboss, whose business was heavily damaged by the flood.
On Tuesday, Sept. 20, residents were still hauling items ruined by the flooding to the corner. Some are wondering if they can rebuild for a second time. Others say they have no choice.
“It's your business, it's your livelihood. This is what you do, this is where we live,” Treboss said.
Conklin Town Supervisor Debbie Preston said she believes the community’s residents will be resilient.
“I don't want to say they're used to it because you never get used to it. But they have the moxie to do what it takes to get it done,” she said.
Conklin residents learned from the 2006 experience and are making sure trash and debris is cleared from curbs as soon as possible. About 15 tractor trailer trucks filled with trash go to the Broome County landfill every day.
“I don't want the people to keep looking at their lives in front of them. So we got right on that,” Preston said.
Roughly 5,000 people have applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding in Broome County alone. Close to 200 are still in shelters throughout the Southern Tier.
