Governor Directs State Parks to Implement 5 MPH Speed Limit for Recreational Vessels Operating Within 600 Feet of Shore
Governor Signs Legislation Amending Clean Water Infrastructure Act to Provide Financial Assistance to Municipalities Impacted by Water-Related Emergencies Available Sooner
Governor Cuomo Tours Damage in Monroe County
WASHINGTON, D.C. –- (RealEstateRama) — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $7 million in state funding to assist homeowners that have been impacted by flooding along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The new investment program will provide up to $40,000 for homeowners to support interior and exterior repairs to structural damage caused by flooding, as well as the repair or replacement of permanent fixtures. The Governor also today signed legislation amending the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 to provide emergency financial assistance for municipalities to be available immediately. The amended legislation removes a 120 day waiting period, allowing municipalities across the state to access emergency loans.
This funding is in addition to the $10 million in state funding announced for eligible municipalities, and the up to $5 million in grants announced for small businesses with physical damage or loss as a result of flooding. These programs are open to eligible applicants in Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wayne counties, and provide grants for flood-related costs that have not or will not be compensated by any other federal, state or local recovery program or any third-party payers.
“As water levels remain at an historic high throughout this region, it is vital that we continue to provide relief and resources to residents and business owners who have been impacted by this unprecedented flooding,” Governor Cuomo said. “With this additional funding to provide direct aid to affected homeowners, we are ensuring that residents along the coast are able to make needed repairs to their homes and recover from the flooding.”
The original legislation did not allow for emergency assistance to be available until 120 days after the effective date, or August 18, 2017. However, due to the nature of emergency situations faced by municipalities across Upstate, and in anticipation of such emergency situations in the near future, the amended legislation will remove the 120 day waiting period, making the emergency loans available sooner.
The $7 million in new funding for homeowners will be provided through New York State Homes and Community Renewal and be available to eligible municipalities and not-for-profit housing organizations seeking to assist homeowners. Applications will be made available tomorrow on the HCR website. Homeowners will ultimately apply for assistance via their municipality or appropriate not-for-profit provider, and homeowners may contact the HCR Office of Community Renewal directly to express interest and ask questions by emailing ocrinfo (at) nyshcr (dot) org or calling 518-474-2057.
The Governor also directed the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to implement a five mile per hour speed limit to control wakes within 600 feet of the Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River shoreline as part of the state’s ongoing response to coastal flooding in the region. Beginning today, vessels operating within 600 feet of shore must observe a 5 mile per hour speed limit to reduce impacts to shoreline residences and infrastructure caused by wave action and to promote safe boating.
Under normal conditions, boaters are required to obey the 5 mile per hour speed limit within 100 feet of shore. With the current state of emergency in the region, and as water levels continue to rise throughout the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River system, the Governor is directing State Parks to institute the expanded speed restriction.
Waves created by boat wakes can exacerbate shoreline erosion, further threatening residential and municipal infrastructure. Reducing speeds will result in reduced boat wakes and lessen the wave action along the shore. Reduced speeds are also necessary to ensure safe boating, as many hidden hazards and debris have been covered by elevated water levels and can threaten boaters. State agencies are working with municipalities to educate boaters and have positioned digital message boards at strategic locations throughout the region.
“DEC remains committed to providing direct assistance to homeowners and local governments throughout the region to address impacts to infrastructure from this record flooding,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Through the Governor’s ongoing leadership, this new funding for homeowners and actions to reduce boating speed limits will help homeowners recover as we reduce risks associated with coastal erosion.”
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Roger L. Parrino, Sr. said, “We are continuing our aggressive response efforts in cooperation with local, state and federal partners to mitigate against the continuing flooding issues in the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River regions. By making this funding available, Governor Cuomo is helping homeowners impacted by continuing flooding issues begin the recovery process and assisting with making communities whole once again.”
“Lowering speeds in close proximity to the shoreline is critical in reducing coastal flooding impacts already felt by communities and for boater safety,” said State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey. “At the Governor’s direction, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is implementing reduced speeds near the coast in an effort to better ensure the safety of boaters from unknown hazards and the safety of neighbors from any additional flood impacts that could occur during this time of emergency.”
As water levels remain at an historic high throughout this region, it is vital that we continue to provide relief and resources to residents and business owners who have been impacted by this unprecedented flooding…
Governor Cuomo
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.
State Offering Weekend Hours at Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers and DEC Permitting Offices Throughout the Summer
To continue the state’s efforts in helping residents and businesses recover from flooding and damage, the NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers and DEC permitting offices will offer weekend hours throughout the summer, starting Memorial Day weekend. In addition, those who are not able to visit the Emergency Response Mobile Command Center can call the Lake Ontario Flood Assistance Hotline at 1-866-244-3839, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. for help with insurance-related issues, assistance with flood mitigation measures such as sandbags, and for technical guidance regarding on-site repairs to their property. To date, the state has assisted more than 1,240 individuals at the Mobile Command Centers, fielded more than 700 calls through the hotline, and DEC has issued more than 420 permits.
Monday, May 29
Monroe County – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Braddock State Park
Town of Greece
199 E. Manitou Road
St. Lawrence – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
City of Ogdensburg
100 Riverside Avenue (The Dobisky Center)
Tuesday, May 30
Niagara – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Newfane
Olcott Fire Company
1691 Lockport-Olcott Rd
Cayuga County- NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Village of Fair Haven
Fair Haven Village Hall
14523 Cayuga Street
Wednesday, May 31
Orleans County- NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Kent
County Marine Park
Point Breeze Road (Route 98)
Oswego County – – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
Town of Mexico
New York State DOT Maintenance Center
5846 Scenic Avenue
Thursday, June 1
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
Friday, June 2
Wayne – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Village of Sodus Point
Sodus Point Beach Park
7958 Wickham Blvd
St. Lawrence – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
City of Ogdensburg
100 Riverside Avenue (The Dobisky Center)
Saturday, June 3
Niagara – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Newfane
Olcott Fire Company
1691 Lockport-Olcott Rd
Cayuga County- NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Village of Fair Haven
Fair Haven Village Hall
14523 Cayuga Street
DEC has also deployed a team of experienced coastal engineers to the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River region 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. DEC will continue to provide support to communities through expedited permitting, site inspections, and technical guidance at regional offices.
DEC Regional Permit Office Contacts and Hours
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
Open Daily: 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM
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
Open Daily: 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM
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
Open Daily: 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM
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
Open Daily: 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM
Regional Resource Deployment
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management is working with county and local partners to monitor water levels of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Additional resources from other state stockpiles have been shifted to locations in Monroe County to prepare for worsening conditions. To date, more than 1.3 million sandbags and 11 sandbaggers – at least one for each County, along with 62 pumps of various sizes with associated hoses, have been deployed to affected communities to help mitigate flooding to impacted counties. Currently, Lake Ontario is 31 inches above its level of one year ago and while these levels are not anticipated to increase in the near future, forecasters expect that it will take many weeks for water levels to normalize.
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
· 180,000 sandbags (50,000 from Army Corps of Engineers)
· 1 sandbaggers deployed
· 40 National Guard members deployed
· State sandbagging operations at Routes 8 and 12E in Chaumont
· 500 tons of sand
· An inmate crew at the Cape Vincent Correctional Facility are filling sandbags on-site for the Town of Lyme and Cape Vincent
· 1 front end loader
· 2 variable messaging boards
· 1 fork lift and operator
Oswego County
· 159,000 sandbags distributed
· 1 sandbagger deployed
· 16 National Guard Members deployed
· State sandbagging operation at State Route 104 in Mapleview
Cayuga County
· 85,000 sandbags distributed
· 1 sandbagger
· 10 National Guard Members deployed
· Local sandbagging operation at 14523 Cayuga Street in Fair Haven
Wayne County
· 295,000 sandbags distributed
· 3 sandbaggers deployed
· 42 National Guard Members deployed
· State sandbagging operation at 7290 Ridge Road in Sodus
· Local sandbagging operation at 7452 Seaman Street in Sodus Point
· 13 pumps and hoses of various sizes
Monroe County
· 412,000 distributed (30,000 from the Army Corps of Engineers)
· 2 sandbaggers deployed
· 52 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 of various sizes
Orleans County
· 140,000 sandbags distributed
· 1 sandbagger deployed
· 56 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 Kendall and 1 in the Town of Carlton
Niagara County
· 60,000 sandbags distributed
· 1 sandbagger deployed
· 50 National Guard members
· Local sandbagging operations at 1691 Lockport Road in Olcott
· 15 pumps and hoses of various sizes.
· 1 front end loader
· 1 lowboy trailer
· 1 14 ton trailer
· 1 large dump truck
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 us by phone:
Albany: (518) 474 – 8418
New York City: (212) 681 – 4640
Contact us by email:
Press.Office (at) exec.ny (dot) gov
