How much did it cost?
Initial estimates of $6.5 million in damages caused by the record-breaking flood in Chenango County last June were less than half of what was actually received from federal, state and local organizations, including churches.
County officials charged with emergency management, infrastructure and social services estimate about $17.5 million in flood disaster related assistance has poured into the region over the past year.
No cost estimates were made for individual business losses, however officials at one time said about $8 million in crops spread over 132 farms in Chenango County were washed out.
The Chenango County Emergency Management Office reported this week that 418 repair and mitigation infrastructure projects were identified for reimbursement by state and federal emergency officials. Culverts and bridges are still at the present time being replaced in some municipalities.
“We had some towns where every single road was damaged and needed repair,” Deputy Director Matt Beckwith said.
FEMA paid out $12 million plus $1.28 in mitigation project costs.
“When FEMA came in, we went through every pebble and itemized costs and made contacts with school, fire department, village and school officials. Project worksheets were written up and costs reported to FEMA,” he said. “The paperwork was overwhelming.”
As for departmental expenses, the majority of the urgent work was completed by volunteer EMTs, fire fighters, and deputy coordinators. Individual towns handled the majority of their own clean up, though outside contractors were called in to assist with the floods that hit the region all over again in November. Corrections officers were called in to set up shelters, deliver water, food and other supplies. Road patrols followed-up complaints and ensured safety.
“A lot of overtime was incurred within the Sheriff’s Office,” Beckwith said.
County roads suffered $2.2 million in damages, of which $1.6 has thus far been received. Department of Public Works Director Randy Gibbon said it wasn’t until last month that FEMA and State Emergency Association agents were able to put their final signatures on all of the required documentation and leave his office in Norwich.
The flood set back the department’s regular road work by more than a year. DPW generally budgets about $1 million per year on maintenance and scheduled projects. Road crews are “still playing catch up,” Gibbon said. Plus, not all of the flood damage repairs have been completed.
Gibbon said concerned citizens call his office every time it rains hard in the area. “People are worried more now because of what happened.”
A little more than $1.8 million in state and federal housing grants were made available to individual homeowners and administered locally by Opportunities for Chenango, Inc. Chenango County Housing Services Director Wayne Viera said recently that the needs for people to get “back on track” were “quite significant.”
“We have discovered people who wintered this year in a pop up tent,” he told county supervisors this month.
Those displaced by the flood could apply for the grants to make repairs, provide support and purchase new homes. The grants came from the New York State Housing Trust Fund through Department of Housing and Community Renewal; Enterprise Community Partnership; NeighborWorks® America; and the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation.
“Eighty percent of that money is an investment in the local economy. It definitely will have an impact,” Viera said.
Individuals impacted by the flood could also turn to Catholic Charities of Chenango County for assistance. The not-for-profit organization distributed $250,000 from a New York State Office for Small Cities grant plus $88,453 from a privately raised pool of emergency support. The state grant provided food and living expenses for 146 households that were displaced. The private funds were received via Catholic parishes throughout the state, the United Church of Christ, the Community Foundation for South/Central New York and private individuals. Thirty households received $3,000 each for household items, building materials and mechanical repairs.
Jane Coddington, executive director, said there are still about 20 households underserved since the flood event last June. Some of the victims have received assistance elsewhere but are still in need for items not covered. “We are trying to get more churches, individuals and foundation to contribute to make sure that we get everybody helped,” she said.
The Farm Service Agency in Chenango County initially asked for $800,000 in relief for farmers whose crop and pasture lands were damaged by high water. The Emergency Conservation Program came through with $150,000, however, due to monies previously allocated for other disasters nationwide and to other counties within New York State.
“We accumulated what money we could,” Robert Almeter, director of the Chenango County agency, said. “The pot of money for ECP was actually depleted, and the feds contacts states where money was allocated buy unused.”
Almeter said he was working on his last application this week. Assessing actual farm losses as a result of the flood remains difficult. “Folks who were on the margins, stressed due to low milk prices and other factors, or at retirement age... conditions like what we experienced sometimes force the issue, but most of the farms that we deal with are still in business,” he said.
“I am always amazed at the resilience of the farm community. They’ve recovered and are optimistic for the most part. We can all take something from that.”
All flood-related costs for The Chenango County Health Department - which were estimated at $48,000 - were provided within the department’s existing budget, at no additional cost to taxpayers. Public health officials focused on protecting the health and safety of Chenango County residents. Nurses provided tetanus shots and first aid, environmental health sanitarians ensured safe drinking water and food, and code enforcement inspectors inspected affected residential and commercial buildings for structural safety.
And the relief goes on. In April, Governor Eliot Spitzer announced legislation that provides tax relief to property owners who sustained significant damage from last summer’s floods. Local officials estimate that could mean about $500,000 in property tax relief available to Chenango County.
The application process, which began in early June and continues through August 15, has been completed by the towns of Afton, Greene, Bainbridge and Guilford on behalf of their constituents. Each jurisdiction was offered the opportunity to participate.
County officials charged with emergency management, infrastructure and social services estimate about $17.5 million in flood disaster related assistance has poured into the region over the past year.
No cost estimates were made for individual business losses, however officials at one time said about $8 million in crops spread over 132 farms in Chenango County were washed out.
The Chenango County Emergency Management Office reported this week that 418 repair and mitigation infrastructure projects were identified for reimbursement by state and federal emergency officials. Culverts and bridges are still at the present time being replaced in some municipalities.
“We had some towns where every single road was damaged and needed repair,” Deputy Director Matt Beckwith said.
FEMA paid out $12 million plus $1.28 in mitigation project costs.
“When FEMA came in, we went through every pebble and itemized costs and made contacts with school, fire department, village and school officials. Project worksheets were written up and costs reported to FEMA,” he said. “The paperwork was overwhelming.”
As for departmental expenses, the majority of the urgent work was completed by volunteer EMTs, fire fighters, and deputy coordinators. Individual towns handled the majority of their own clean up, though outside contractors were called in to assist with the floods that hit the region all over again in November. Corrections officers were called in to set up shelters, deliver water, food and other supplies. Road patrols followed-up complaints and ensured safety.
“A lot of overtime was incurred within the Sheriff’s Office,” Beckwith said.
County roads suffered $2.2 million in damages, of which $1.6 has thus far been received. Department of Public Works Director Randy Gibbon said it wasn’t until last month that FEMA and State Emergency Association agents were able to put their final signatures on all of the required documentation and leave his office in Norwich.
The flood set back the department’s regular road work by more than a year. DPW generally budgets about $1 million per year on maintenance and scheduled projects. Road crews are “still playing catch up,” Gibbon said. Plus, not all of the flood damage repairs have been completed.
Gibbon said concerned citizens call his office every time it rains hard in the area. “People are worried more now because of what happened.”
A little more than $1.8 million in state and federal housing grants were made available to individual homeowners and administered locally by Opportunities for Chenango, Inc. Chenango County Housing Services Director Wayne Viera said recently that the needs for people to get “back on track” were “quite significant.”
“We have discovered people who wintered this year in a pop up tent,” he told county supervisors this month.
Those displaced by the flood could apply for the grants to make repairs, provide support and purchase new homes. The grants came from the New York State Housing Trust Fund through Department of Housing and Community Renewal; Enterprise Community Partnership; NeighborWorks® America; and the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation.
“Eighty percent of that money is an investment in the local economy. It definitely will have an impact,” Viera said.
Individuals impacted by the flood could also turn to Catholic Charities of Chenango County for assistance. The not-for-profit organization distributed $250,000 from a New York State Office for Small Cities grant plus $88,453 from a privately raised pool of emergency support. The state grant provided food and living expenses for 146 households that were displaced. The private funds were received via Catholic parishes throughout the state, the United Church of Christ, the Community Foundation for South/Central New York and private individuals. Thirty households received $3,000 each for household items, building materials and mechanical repairs.
Jane Coddington, executive director, said there are still about 20 households underserved since the flood event last June. Some of the victims have received assistance elsewhere but are still in need for items not covered. “We are trying to get more churches, individuals and foundation to contribute to make sure that we get everybody helped,” she said.
The Farm Service Agency in Chenango County initially asked for $800,000 in relief for farmers whose crop and pasture lands were damaged by high water. The Emergency Conservation Program came through with $150,000, however, due to monies previously allocated for other disasters nationwide and to other counties within New York State.
“We accumulated what money we could,” Robert Almeter, director of the Chenango County agency, said. “The pot of money for ECP was actually depleted, and the feds contacts states where money was allocated buy unused.”
Almeter said he was working on his last application this week. Assessing actual farm losses as a result of the flood remains difficult. “Folks who were on the margins, stressed due to low milk prices and other factors, or at retirement age... conditions like what we experienced sometimes force the issue, but most of the farms that we deal with are still in business,” he said.
“I am always amazed at the resilience of the farm community. They’ve recovered and are optimistic for the most part. We can all take something from that.”
All flood-related costs for The Chenango County Health Department - which were estimated at $48,000 - were provided within the department’s existing budget, at no additional cost to taxpayers. Public health officials focused on protecting the health and safety of Chenango County residents. Nurses provided tetanus shots and first aid, environmental health sanitarians ensured safe drinking water and food, and code enforcement inspectors inspected affected residential and commercial buildings for structural safety.
And the relief goes on. In April, Governor Eliot Spitzer announced legislation that provides tax relief to property owners who sustained significant damage from last summer’s floods. Local officials estimate that could mean about $500,000 in property tax relief available to Chenango County.
The application process, which began in early June and continues through August 15, has been completed by the towns of Afton, Greene, Bainbridge and Guilford on behalf of their constituents. Each jurisdiction was offered the opportunity to participate.
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