O'Toole to Tour Flood-Prone Village

Local officials have made it quite clear to solve flooding issues they'll need help from those higher up on the state's political totem pole. In response, State Senator Kevin O'Toole (R-40) will take a walking tour the village on October 26 to get an up close and personal view of the damage Irene and recent storms have wrought.

While some flood-related issues can be fixed at the municipal level, many remain beyond the purview of Ridgewood. State senators, congressmen and various state egencies, namely the DEP, must be allies for long-term needs to be addressed, officials said at last week's Wednesday night council session.

"I think our senators and state assemblymen have heard each town cry out and realize the damage [that has occurred] and realize something has to be done," Mayor Keith Killion said. "We'll see how much time he has," he added.

O'Toole, whose 40th district encompasses much of the Passaic River Basin, sent a letter to the head of FEMA requesting that Tropical Storm Lee, which followed Irene in September, be given a disaster declaration.

Damage cleanup in Ridgewood from recent storms could total nearly $1 million.