Municipalities recieve FEMA assistance for flood recovery; no help for homeowners
CHENANGO COUNTY – Nearly one month after heavy flooding ravaged parts of the county, local legislatures are still awaiting detailed damage reports from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to determine how much in federal assistance area municipalities will receive for repairs to local infrastructure.
FEMA and local officials will work together in the coming weeks to survey the damage caused by flooding. Upon completion of the survey, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations that have accumulated more than $1,000 in damages will be eligible for 75 percent the cost of repairs through FEMA. The remaining 25 percent will be split between state and county, each kicking in 12.5 percent.
“We might not have qualified for FEMA assistance to homeowners, but getting a little help for non-profits and municipalities is definitely helpful,” said Chenango County Emergency Management Coordinator Matthew Beckwith.
Estimated flood damage in Sherburne alone tops $810,000, Beckwith added. Town supervisors across the county have been encouraged to work with their respective highway superintendents to identify other areas of concern that may help them qualify for public assistance.
In North Norwich, flood waters washed out nearly 50 feet of pavement and a culvert underlying Tracy Road, a Route 12 bypass just south of the Town of Sherburne. Preliminary estimates for repairs to the section of road currently stand at $125,000.
“Our highway supervisor has been vigilant in documenting damages and getting the necessary paperwork for FEMA and SEMA assistance to repair it,” said North Norwich Supervisor Robert Wansor.
FEMA provides money for disaster mitigation as well, Wansor pointed out, meaning the township may receive funding to rebuild Tracy Road in a way that prevents similar damage from flooding in the future. “This section of road has been damaged several times over the last ten years ... we want to rebuild it in a way that is better than it was so that it will hopefully prevent washouts in the future,” he added.
Chenango County was left off New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order for flood recovery earlier this month. The state-funded individual assistance program requires that municipalities have 25 or more damaged homes as a result of flooding to be eligible for assistance.
“We just didn’t meet that minimum threshold that needs to be damaged,” said Beckwith.
Meanwhile, individual assistance provided by the State Emergency Management Agency was awarded to nearby Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara and Oneida counties.
“Assistance would have been incredibly helpful to homeowners in this area,” said Village of Sherburne Mayor William Acee. “I was disappointed to see that Chenango County was left off the governor’s declaration.”
Last week, the federal Department of Transportation did announce that it will provide $5 million in storm relief funding to help state and local municipal governments rebuild roads and highways. The funding comes by way of the Federal Highway Administration Quick Release Emergency Relief Program, which provides funds to New York State for the repair or reconstruction of roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters. Funding is expected to aid repairs primarily on Route 51, Route 168, Route 5 and Route 80.
FEMA funding applications will be made available through the Chenango County Emergency Management Office. County officials and local not-for-profit leaders can fill out necessary paperwork and submit it to their FEMA representative pending eligibility.
For additional information, contact the Emergency Management Office at 337-1862.
FEMA and local officials will work together in the coming weeks to survey the damage caused by flooding. Upon completion of the survey, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations that have accumulated more than $1,000 in damages will be eligible for 75 percent the cost of repairs through FEMA. The remaining 25 percent will be split between state and county, each kicking in 12.5 percent.
“We might not have qualified for FEMA assistance to homeowners, but getting a little help for non-profits and municipalities is definitely helpful,” said Chenango County Emergency Management Coordinator Matthew Beckwith.
Estimated flood damage in Sherburne alone tops $810,000, Beckwith added. Town supervisors across the county have been encouraged to work with their respective highway superintendents to identify other areas of concern that may help them qualify for public assistance.
In North Norwich, flood waters washed out nearly 50 feet of pavement and a culvert underlying Tracy Road, a Route 12 bypass just south of the Town of Sherburne. Preliminary estimates for repairs to the section of road currently stand at $125,000.
“Our highway supervisor has been vigilant in documenting damages and getting the necessary paperwork for FEMA and SEMA assistance to repair it,” said North Norwich Supervisor Robert Wansor.
FEMA provides money for disaster mitigation as well, Wansor pointed out, meaning the township may receive funding to rebuild Tracy Road in a way that prevents similar damage from flooding in the future. “This section of road has been damaged several times over the last ten years ... we want to rebuild it in a way that is better than it was so that it will hopefully prevent washouts in the future,” he added.
Chenango County was left off New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order for flood recovery earlier this month. The state-funded individual assistance program requires that municipalities have 25 or more damaged homes as a result of flooding to be eligible for assistance.
“We just didn’t meet that minimum threshold that needs to be damaged,” said Beckwith.
Meanwhile, individual assistance provided by the State Emergency Management Agency was awarded to nearby Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara and Oneida counties.
“Assistance would have been incredibly helpful to homeowners in this area,” said Village of Sherburne Mayor William Acee. “I was disappointed to see that Chenango County was left off the governor’s declaration.”
Last week, the federal Department of Transportation did announce that it will provide $5 million in storm relief funding to help state and local municipal governments rebuild roads and highways. The funding comes by way of the Federal Highway Administration Quick Release Emergency Relief Program, which provides funds to New York State for the repair or reconstruction of roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters. Funding is expected to aid repairs primarily on Route 51, Route 168, Route 5 and Route 80.
FEMA funding applications will be made available through the Chenango County Emergency Management Office. County officials and local not-for-profit leaders can fill out necessary paperwork and submit it to their FEMA representative pending eligibility.
For additional information, contact the Emergency Management Office at 337-1862.
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