SC New York News

Several lawmakers from New York's Southern Tier are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to enhance the state's response to Tropical Storm Debby's aftermath. State Senator Tom O'Mara and Assembly members Phil Palmesano, Marjorie Byrnes, and Joe Giglio have requested an extension of the application deadline for state aid and the removal of income thresholds for accessing funding.

Governor Hochul announced on September 16 that applications for emergency home repair assistance were available for homeowners affected by severe storms in July and August 2024. The program, managed by Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), offers up to $50,000 for necessary repairs. Applications were initially accepted until October 7, 2024.

The grant covers Allegany and Steuben counties, providing funds where other disaster recovery resources fall short. Details can be found on the "Resilient and Ready Home Repair Program" website.

In addition to state aid, federal assistance has been approved following Hochul's request for a Major Disaster Declaration. This declaration supports infrastructure reconstruction in several counties impacted by the storm.

The lawmakers urge Governor Hochul to assume local disaster-related costs fully, amend aid programs to include businesses, eliminate income thresholds, and extend the application deadline by at least 30 days.

Their letter states: “We strongly believe New York State needs to follow this model of comprehensive state direct assistance.” They argue that rural communities require more time than initially allotted due to logistical challenges in gathering necessary information.

Additionally, they call on Hochul to reform the Department of Environmental Conservation's permitting process. This change would enable timely streambank maintenance crucial for preventing future flooding events.

O’Mara emphasized during a recent tour with Governor Hochul: “A process that authorizes their ability...to protect their communities from future flash flooding events like this one is desperately needed.”