Meet the Flood Advisory Commission and its Chair Carolina Jaramillo-Johnson
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Your Name: Carolina Jaramillo-Johnson
Board or Commission you chair: Flood Advisory Commission
Your role: Chairperson
MyRye.com: What is the charter for your Commission?
Jaramillo-Johnson: The Flood Advisory Committee was established by resolution of the City Council to research, study and recommend actions that the City could consider in mitigating flood impacts both on a local and regional level.
Looking at 2025, what will be your top initiatives?
Jaramillo-Johnson:
- Get an update of the monitoring by stream gages of the Blind Brook. With the purpose of making the sluice gate at Bowman Dam operational.
- Get an update on the progress of the ACOE [Army Corps of Engineers] study of the Blind Brook.
- Get an update on NYS [New York State] grants that can be pursued for mitigation projects.
Who is the City Council liaison to your Commission for 2025?
Jaramillo-Johnson: The Mayor.
(VIDEO, below: Rye FD HQ on Locust Avenue in downtown Rye during Hurricane Ida in Rye, NY the night of Tuesday, August 31st, 2021.)
Tell us about the residents or others you interact with at your Commission.
Jaramillo-Johnson: The Board mainly interacts with the Mayor and City Manager. Board members have no dialogue with the City’s lobbyists, grant writers or Congressional representatives.
When was your Commission chartered by the City of Rye?
Jaramillo-Johnson: I started a citizens’ group in 2007 after two major floods. As a citizen group we were able to lobby Westchester County to grant the City funds to build a sluice gate at the Bowman Dam. That took about five years. Mayor Doug French created the Flood Advisory Commission modeled after the citizen’s group. The Commission has an advisory role, which means we don’t make any decisions, we mostly keep the issue on the front burner for the City Manager to deploy assets as he sees fit.
Looking back across 2024, what were your Board Commission’s top achievements?
Jaramillo-Johnson: Solutions to the flooding issues in our town are projects that take years if not decades to complete. We’re building relationships with other flood committees in neighboring towns like Mamaroneck and Harrison.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Jaramillo-Johnson: As chair I have been on the FAC [Flood Advisory Commission] for one year. I was a member previously and the liaison from the Council to it. As I said, I started the citizens’ group after which the FAC was created.
Who appointed you to this position, and when?
Jaramillo-Johnson: Mayor Cohn in 2024 after my term was over on the Council.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Jaramillo-Johnson: Volunteer.
What is your day job?
Jaramillo-Johnson: I was a broadcast journalist for Spanish television, Univision, Telemundo, Bloomberg and CNN.
How much time does your role require in a typical month?
Jaramillo-Johnson: It varies greatly.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Jaramillo-Johnson: Tenacious.
Where did you grow up?
Jaramillo-Johnson: Bogota, Colombia.
What is your favorite unimportant thing about you?
Jaramillo-Johnson: I love my dogs.
If the next five years is a chapter in your life, what is this chapter about?
Jaramillo-Johnson: I look forward to traveling and exploring places.
What would you do if you were not afraid?
Jaramillo-Johnson: I would go bungee jumping.
Where do you live in Rye and how many years have you lived in the City?
Jaramillo-Johnson: I live in Indian Village. I have lived in Rye for 23 years.
Thanks Carolina!
Learn more:
Carolina Jaramillo-Johnson’s LinkedIn
Are meetings recorded?: No.
Are written agendas and meeting minutes available?: Yes.
Main Flood Advisory Commission page on City website
Members of Board:
Carolina Johnson, Chair 12-31-27 (term expires)
Chris McGuire 12-31-27
Martha Monserrate 12-31-27
Keith Coyne 12-31-27
Vacant Position
Vacant Position
Vacant Position
