Lunch & Learn: Town of Olive uses NYC-Funded Flood Buyout Program to Build Resiliency

A screenshot from the Lunch & Learn with Town of Olive Supervisor Jim Sofranko

The Town of Olive is an active participant in the New York City-funded Flood Buyout Program (FBO). This is a voluntary program intended to assist at-risk property owners during times when FEMA’s flood buyout program is locally inactive.

At this Lunch & Learn webinar on 9/18/25, Jim Sofranko, Supervisor of the Town of Olive, and Heidi Emrich, Ulster County Environmental Planner working to support the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program, shared the town’s experience working through this program, and the decisions the town and landowners have faced when planning for the future of flood-prone properties, especially along Route 28 in Boiceville.

The process has included helping community members get out of repetitive loss structures, reducing community flood risk, and bringing community recreation and “rebirth” to the demolition sites, now serving as natural floodplains.

The Lunch & Learn program included time for Q&A, discussion, and community updates. 

This program is sponsored by the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University.

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The Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network connects local governments committed to taking actionable steps to manage current and future flood risks. The Flood Resilience Network is co-facilitated by New York Sea Grant and the Hudson River Watershed Alliance.

Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network programs and trainings are open to Members and Partners. Members are representatives from municipal and county governments in the Hudson River estuary watershed. This includes elected and appointed officials, staff, and volunteers. Partners are staff from agencies, regional organizations, or private-sector consulting firms working in the Hudson River estuary watershed that support Members’ flood resilience goals.

To join the Network and gain access to upcoming programs, visit https://www.hvfloodresiliencenetwork.org/join and complete the Member or Partner form based on your role. The Network is free to join.