Governor sends team to determine if flood damage rises to the level of federal aid

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Thursday that technical assistance teams from FEMA have begun Joint Public Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments in eight counties impacted by severe flooding in early August, to include Tioga and surrounding counties.

The assessments will determine if the total amount of damage costs meets the $28.29 million requirement for federal aid. If the damage costs meet the federal threshold, a disaster declaration will be granted and FEMA funding would be available to support infrastructure repair.

The eight counties included in the request are Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Schuyler, Seneca and Tioga.

“Many communities have suffered tremendous damage to infrastructure from heavy rains and flash flooding, and I urge the federal government to recognize the severity of these damages,” Governor Cuomo said, adding, “The sooner FEMA representatives can validate our damage estimates, the sooner we can take action and provide these devastated communities with the funding and assistance they need now.”

The heavy rain storms and resulting flooding that passed across the state earlier in August caused significant damage to roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure. Assessment teams from the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services have toured the damage areas and met with local emergency management officials in the affected counties to develop total damage cost estimates.

Based on those estimates, the state believes the total costs meet the federal threshold for a disaster declaration.

 New York received two major disaster declarations in 2017. On July 12, a major disaster declaration was declared for 28 counties affected by the severe winter storm and snowstorm of March 2017. A major disaster declaration for flooding was also declared on Nov. 14 for the eight counties along Lake Ontario.

About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies.

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