New Targeted Investment Program Will Support Local Municipalities in Flood Recovery Efforts
New Yorkers Encouraged to Report Suspected Price Gouging to the Lake Ontario Flood Assistance Hotline at 866-244-3839
Mobile Command Centers Continue to be Deployed to Assist with Insurance Claims and Expedited Permitting
New York – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $10 million in state funding is available to assist eligible local municipalities that have been impacted by the recent flooding along the Lake Ontario coastline. The new investment program will support flood recovery efforts, including repairs to flood walls, roads, sidewalks, and culverts, as well as public water and sewer infrastructure. The funding is available through New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The program will be open to applications for funding from municipal governments in counties that were identified in Governor Cuomo’s May 2, 2017 emergency declaration this week.
Earlier this month, the Governor declared a State of Emergency in Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wayne counties for the region in order to expedite repairs to impacted structures and construction of shoreline stabilization projects. Additionally, staff from the Lake Ontario Rapid Response Team continue to be deployed to assist residents and monitor response efforts along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
“As Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River continue to slowly rise, we must do everything in our power to ease the financial and personal toll on our families and communities, while fortifying our infrastructure to ensure its continued viability,” Governor Cuomo said. “With this available funding, we are ramping up our multi-agency response efforts to help these communities and provide the assistance that they need now.”
Since the end of April, more than 1.2 million sandbags have been deployed to help localities mitigate against damage to their homes and businesses, along with 11 sandbagging machines – at least one in each effected county. In addition, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has deployed field teams to provide on-the-ground technical assistance and coordination with state and local emergency management personnel.
“Our communities on Lake Ontario are working hard to fight off flood damage to roads, floodwalls and the public water infrastructure in several locations along the lakefront spanning from Jefferson County to Niagara,” Lieutenant Governor Hochul said during the announcement in Fair Haven today. “Governor Cuomo has committed $10 million in state funding to help make needed infrastructure repairs in these communities, and we will continue our ongoing support in manpower, sandbagging and assistance at our Mobile Command Center.”
Report Suspected Price Gouging
The Governor is asking residents to report suspected price gouging to the Lake Ontario Flood Assistance Hotline at 866-244-3839. The hotline is available for residents and businesses concerned about potential price gouging or other exploitative practices by service providers in the area. If you believe you are being charged excessive prices for any essential consumer goods or services during the present disaster situation, you are urged to call the hotline and staff will connect you to the Department of State Division of Consumer Protection.
Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers
In addition, the state will continue to deploy Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers staffed by Department of Financial Services personnel who can help residents navigate the insurance claim process. Since the deployment of the Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers, over 700 individuals have asked for insurance assistance at the various locations in the eight affected counties.
Department of Environmental Conservation experts are also available at the Mobile Command Centers to help answer questions on the Storm Recovery General Permit, describe the specific types of repair and stabilization work authorized, and provide assistance in completing the application form. In certain instances, based on the available information provided by applicants, DEC will provide permits on-site or expedite further review and field visits necessary to issue permits. To obtain the required authorization under this General Permit, residents should come prepared by reading the General Permit and Application Instructions; determine whether or not the proposed work is within the scope of the General Permit; fill out the Application for General Permit GP-0-17-006 and provide drawings, plans, photos (if available) and a location map.
In addition, DEC has deployed a team of experienced coastal engineers to Lake Ontario to meet with property owners, conduct site visits and offer technical assistance. DEC’s engineers stand ready to work with property owners so that protective structures can be repaired and homeowners can take appropriate actions expeditiously. To date, DEC has issued 247 permits.
The NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers will be at the below locations over the next five days. In addition, those who are not able to visit the Emergency Response Mobile Command Center can call the Department of Financial Service’s Disaster Hotline at 1-800-339-1759, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 p.m. for help with insurance-related issues.
Sunday, May 21
Wayne – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Village of Sodus Point
Sodus Point Beach Park
7958 Wickham Blvd.
Jefferson – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Lyme
Chaumont Volunteer Fire Department
11385 NY Route-12E
Monday, May 22
Oswego County – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Mexico
New York State DOT Maintenance Center
5846 Scenic Ave.
Cayuga County – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Village of Fair Haven
Fair Haven Village Hall
14523 Cayuga St.
Tuesday, May 23
Niagara – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Newfane
Olcott Fire Company
1691 Lockport-Olcott Road
Olreans County – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Kent
County Marine Park
Point Breeze Road (Route 98)
Wednesday, May 24
Monroe – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Parma
Town Hall
1300 Hilton Parma Rd
Parma, NY
Jefferson County – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Lyme
Chaumont Volunteer Fire Department
11385 NY Route 12E
Thursday, May 25
Wayne – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
Sodus Point
Sodus Point Beach Park
7958 Wickham Blvd
St. Lawrence – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
City of Ogdensburg
100 Riverside Avenue (The Dobinsky Center)
If you are unable to visit a mobile location, the DEC will continue to provide support to communities through expedited permitting, site inspections, and technical guidance at regional offices. Since last month the DEC regional offices have received 336 applications and have issued 168 General Permits, 35 individual permits and 44 Emergency Authorizations. The remaining applications are under review.
DEC Regional Permit Office Contacts
NYS DEC Region 6
(Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties)
Regional Permit Administrator
Dulles State Office Building
317 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601-3787
Phone: 315-785-2245
Fax: 315-785-2242
Email: dep.r6 (at) dec.ny (dot) gov
NYS DEC Region 7
(Cayuga and Oswego counties)
Regional Permit Administrator
615 Erie Blvd. West, Room 206
Syracuse, NY 13204-2400
Phone: 315-426-7444
Fax: 315-426-7425
Email: dep.r7 (at) dec.ny (dot) gov
NYS DEC Region 8
(Monroe, Orleans and Wayne counties)
Regional Permit Administrator
6274 East Avon – Lima Road
Avon, NY 14414-9519
Phone: 585-226-5400
Fax: 585-226-2830
Email: dep.r8 (at) dec.ny (dot) gov
NYS DEC Region 9
(Niagara County)
Regional Permit Administrator
270 Michigan Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14203-2915
Phone: 716-851-7165
Fax: 716-851-7168
Email: dep.r9 (at) dec.ny (dot) gov
Regional Resource Deployment
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management continues to coordinate with county and local partners in monitoring the rising levels of Lake Ontario and additional resources from other state stockpiles have been shifted to locations in Monroe county in the event that conditions worsen. To date, more than 1.2 million sandbags have been deployed to affected communities to help mitigate flooding. Currently, assets have been deployed to the following counties:
St. Lawrence County
- 40,000 sandbags distributed (20,000 from Army Corps of Engineers)
- 1 sandbagger deployed
- State sandbagging operation at 2317 Green Street Ogdensburg
Jefferson County
- 170,000 sandbags (50,000 from Army Corps of Engineers)
- 2 sandbaggers deployed
- 30 National Guard members deployed
- State sandbagging operations at Routes 8 and 12E in Chaumont
- An inmate crew at the Cape Vincent Correctional Facility are filling sandbags on-site for the Town of Lyme and Cape Vincent.
Oswego County
- 139,000 sandbags distributed
- 1 sandbagger deployed
- 32 National Guard Members deployed
- State sandbagging operation at State Route 104 in Mapleview
Cayuga County
- 85,000 sandbags distributed
- 1 sandbagger
- 20 National Guard Members deployed
- Local sandbagging operation at 14523 Cayuga Street in Fair Haven
Wayne County
- 255,000 sandbags distributed
- 2 sandbaggers deployed
- 47 National Guard Members deployed
- State sandbagging operation at 7290 Ridge Road in Sodus
- Local sandbagging operation at 7452 Seaman Street in Sodus Point
- 2 hoses and pumps
- 2 – 6” pumps
Monroe County
- 322,000 distributed (30,000 from the Army Corps of Engineers)
- 2 sandbaggers deployed
- 64 National Guard members deployed
- State sandbagging operation at 198 East Manitou Road in Hilton
- Local sandbagging operation at 1 Long Pond Road in Rochester
- 24 pumps
- 12 – 4” pumps
- 2 – 6” pumps
- 10 – 3” pumps
Orleans County
- 130,000 sandbags distributed
- 1 sandbagger deployed
- 52 National Guard members deployed
- State sandbagging operation at 14410 Route 31 in Albion
- 3 Department of Corrections and Community Supervision inmate crews
- 2 in the Town of Kendell
- 1 in the Town of Carlton
Niagara County
- 60,000 sandbags distributed
- 1 sandbagger deployed
- 10 National Guard members
- Local sandbagging operations at 1691 Lockport Road in Olcott
- 14 pumps and various hoses
- 12 – 3” pumps
- 2 – 6” pumps
The New York State Department of Transportation continues to work in coordination with sister agencies and local and county leaders, providing assistance and equipment to more than a dozen communities. To date, NYSDOT crews have bagged more than 3,700 tons of sand, providing nearly 170,000 of the deployed sandbags to affected communities.
New York State Parks continues to actively monitor the situation specifically involving issues of high water, shoreline erosion, and debris accumulation. Crews have placed sandbags around vulnerable facilities such as marina buildings, and are cleaning and clearing out debris. State Parks crews will assess long term impacts once the water recedes. All parks are open and focused on getting ready for a busy summer. Park visitors should monitor www.nysparks.com or call their local park office for the latest updates regarding park hours, openings and closings.
All New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for NY-Alert, the state’s free, all hazards subscription-based alerting system. For more information and to register, please visit www.nyalert.gov. For information on flood safety visit the DHSES website at www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/safety-info/flood. For more information on the Storm Recovery Permit, visit the DEC website. Details of the general permit and instructions for applicants can be found at: www.dec.ny.gov/permits/89343.html.
Contact: Richard Loconte, 212-709-1691
