State will provide more flooding assistance

YATES COUNTY--Yates County was selected by the state as one of 11 counties to receive additional state assistance for the damage sustained in the May floods. This assistance is meant to cover the local share of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public assistance costs in an effort to aid taxpayers.
"Yates County is grateful that the state has agreed to pay for the portion of the flood recovery costs that are not being reimbursed by FEMA," Yates County Administrator Sarah Purdy said. "The non-federally reimbursed costs are about $300,000. We had anticipated needing to cover half of this amount, with the state picking up the other half, and we were holding our breath as to whether the state would come through on its portion. That the state is also picking up the local share is extremely helpful in relieving fiscal pressure for Yates County. It does not impact the 2015 county budget, but it keeps us from having to dip into fund balances to pay our share, and that is important for the 2016 county budget."
Yates County Chairman Tim Dennis said the $300,000 is the equivalent of around 2 percent of the county's property tax levy, "which is roughly around the tax cap." He said he had spoken to Deputy Director of the Department of Emergency Management Diane Caves who said the total damages submitted to FEMA from the county, towns and villages is around $9.6 million. He said the claims from the Arc of Yates and the Industrial Development Agency could be as much as another $2 million in claims.
"This is really great news for all those that will receive 'unplanned' revenue," Legislator Gary Montgomery added.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Thursday, Nov. 13 state assistance for storm recovery efforts to communities in 11 counties that were impacted by the Western New York and Finger Lakes flooding of May 2014. The state will relieve local governments of their entire required share of FEMA Public Assistance Program costs to minimize the financial impact on local taxpayers.
"Local governments throughout these regions were left with significant recovery costs in the aftermath of extreme weather, but today the state is stepping forward to help them build back better than before," Cuomo said. "By alleviating the financial burden imposed by Mother Nature, we're clearing the way for local governments to focus on improving storm resiliency with the next storm in mind."
Communities in these regions sustained significant damage from the spring storm. In response, the federal government has agreed to fund 75 percent of eligible recovery and resiliency project costs, while local governments were initially responsible for paying the remaining 25 percent of costs. To lift the burden of local governments of covering these costs, the state is assuming the 25 percent of costs.
The FEMA Public Assistance Program provides reimbursement for local government activities such as debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair and rebuilding of publically-owned infrastructure that was damaged including roads, schools bridges, parks, hospitals, police stations, fire houses, water and waste water treatment facilities and other public facilities.
The following counties are also eligible for state assistance:
· Steuben County
· Allegany County
· Cattaraugus County
· Chautauqua County
· Delaware County
· Herkimer County
· Lewis County
· Livingston County
· Ontario County
· Otsego County
The FEMA funding is administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.