BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The Southern Tier is no stranger to flooding and now engineers are working to reduce the risk.

Residents met with a team of engineers Wednesday at Binghamton University to learn how 12 levee systems across the Southern Tier can help.

But, experts also suggest that homeowners get flood insurance and flood proof their homes.

Major flooding put the system to the test back in 2011.

"They did their job because they're well maintained, but some of them did overtop because the storm was so strong. So we want to ensure that the public knows that because you live behind a levee system, doesn't necessarily mean that you're absolutely safe,” said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Specialist Sarah Lazo.

The levee systems were built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and are maintained by the DEC with the help of local government.