The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Flood relief on its way
Flood-stricken areas of Oneida County will receive significant aid following the weekend’s devastating storms.
“We cannot stop natural disasters. However we must continue to do our best to be prepared when flooding strikes,” said County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. on Wednesday at the Whitesboro Fire Department. “This programwill look at the areas hardest hit, whether village, town, city or county area and put together a plan that will mitigate the flooding in the long term.”
Oneida County will allocate $2 million for flood mitigation projects, $500,000 for cleanup efforts, which will be a 50/50 match with affected municipalities, and $250,000 that will be distributed through the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc. to aid individuals in recovering the damages they incurred.
The Community Foundation will appropriate those funds in the coming days and information will be made available on how individuals can request recovery funds. Visit www.ocgov.net or www.foundationhoc.org for updated
information.
The mitigation projects have not been identified, but could include constructing detention ponds, stabilizing streams, new culverts and trash rack installations that will help prevent the destruction caused by flooding.
“Today is an example of why I continuously talk about finances and having a county government that has the financial ability to invest in the community to build it better and safer for all of us that live and work here,” Picente said. “These projects may prevent one’s home from flooding and their possessions being lost forever, or even worse -- flooding that causes real physical harm to loved ones.”
The New York State Department of Financial Services Mobile Command Center will be at the Whitesboro Fire Department through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
DFS staff will be available to provide information and assist homeowners and residents with questions and concerns relating to mortgage loans, or refinancing of loans. DFS staff will be available to provide information and assist homeowners and residents with questions and concerns relating to insurance issues.
Residents who are not able to visit the Mobile Command Center can call the Department’s Disaster Hotline at 1-800-3391759, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for help with insurance-related issues.
Those in need of assistance can also call 2-1-1.
“This weekend’s damaging f loods devastated homes, businesses and properties across Central New York,” said U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, R-22. “I spent the weekend surveying the damage firsthand, climbing though f looded basements and meeting with first responders on the scene. The $2.75 million provided by Oneida County today is an important step in beginning to help prepare for and mitigate future disasters, while providing much needed aid for cleanup efforts throughout the region.”
“We applaud the first responders and local officials for their leadership in acting swiftly to help our communities during this difficult and trying time,” said State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-47. “The people impacted by this flooding are going to need a variety of support to help them recover and rebuild from this disaster, and we will continue to advocate for and secure whatever state and federal resources may exist to provide the flood relief these communities and residents desperately need. While we cannot always control nature, we should do whatever we can to help us be more prepared to lessen the impact of any weatherrelated events that confront our communities and residents.”
“The support from the state and Oneida County for residents and business owners hit by this unprecedented flooding is certainly commendable,” said State Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, D-119. “I have been hearing over the long holiday weekend from many constituents whose lives have been turned upside down by Saturday’s flooding, and I am pleased to see local not for profit agencies and representatives from all levels of government stepping up to do everything possible to assist people who have sustained flood damage. It is my hope that the lives of everyone affected by this event will return to normal as quickly as possible.”
“The recent flooding has been devastating for many in our community. There is much work that needs to be done to make our community whole again,” said State Assemblyman Brian Miller, R-101.