American Red Cross, others offer assistance to flood victims

Times Telegram, The (Herkimer, NY)

Nov. 9--NEWPORT -- The American Red Cross was stationed at the Newport Fire Department Friday to distribute bottled water, comfort kits and cleanup kits to residents in need.

Kimmy Venter, chief communications officer for the Eastern New York Region of the American Red Cross, said a limited number of individuals came in for supplies, but many had other reasons for visiting.

"More were coming in to talk to our representatives, to talk with our mental health workers," she said.

The state Department of Financial Services Mobile Command Center is currently located at the Newport Fire Department and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 15. Residents unable to visit the mobile command center can call the department's Disaster Hotline at 800-339-1759 from 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for help with insurance related issues.

Newport and the Kuyahoora Valley saw some of the worst of the flooding from the Oct. 31 storm, which swept away bridges, damaged roads and flooded homes. One person died in the flooding -- Father Thomas Connery, who exited his vehicle after becoming stuck in floodwaters and was swept away.

Venter said 267 comfort kits -- which include hygiene products -- and cleanup kits -- which include sponges, gloves, cleaner and trash bags -- had been distributed throughout the region. She said of the majority of those -- about 250 -- were cleanup kits.

Venter also said that up to 3,600 meals and snacks have been distributed to affected residents, primarily in Herkimer and Oneida counties. She said approximately 1,500 of that number was for meals.

Disaster Assistance Services Center locations at the Newport Fire Station at 7370 Main St., Newport, and Dolgeville Village Hall at 41 N. Main St., Dolgeville, will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9.

Multi-agency resource centers will be available from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Newport Fire Department and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Dolgeville Fire Department, 20 S. Helmer Ave., Dolgeville. Organizations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Catholic Charities, Herkimer County Department of Social Services, Public Health, Mental Health, Office for the Aging and Emergency Management will have representatives at both sites.

Cuomo declared a state of emergency for Cayuga, Chautauqua, Cortland, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Saratoga, Warren and Jefferson counties as heavy rains and 70-mph winds caused flooding and power outages throughout most of the state as a result of the Oct. 31 storm. State response equipment, hundreds of state personnel, 200 members of the National Guard and various other resources were deployed to assist localities with response and cleanup operations, at the governor's direction.