CUOMO SIGNS FLOOD RELIEF BILL

July 07--WILSON -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo is calling on President Trump to approve Federal Emergency Management Aid funds for those impacted by Lake Ontario flooding and to replace U.S. representatives tasked with managing the lake's water levels.

Cuomo made the announcement at Wilson's Sunset Bar & Grill on Thursday, moments before signing a relief bill to provide $45 million for individuals and municipalities affected by record-high lake levels.

But whether the state would be eligible for FEMA funds remains to be seen. In the comings weeks, state officials will tally the total damages and submit an application for FEMA aid, Cuomo said.

"We are going to pursue that aggressively," Cuomo said. "I believe this is a federal responsibility. We pay federal taxes and they should pay."

A FEMA spokesman said the population-based threshold for the state is $27.7 million. However, FEMA also considers other factors in a disaster, including the amount of insurance, the size of the affected area and the number of buildings damaged.

And the final say ultimately falls on Trump, who as president, holds the power to declare a federal disaster.

"The dollar figure is not the single determining factor," spokesman Don Caetano said.

Cuomo also used the platform to call for three new U.S. commissioners on the International Joint Commission, a bi-national organization that manages waters on the U.S.-Canadian border. The IJC consists of three U.S. and three Canadian commissioners.

For months, local lawmakers have called on President Trump to appoint new American commissioners in an effort to dump Plan 2014.

One of those commissioners seats is vacant. Meanwhile, Commissioner Rich Moy hails from Montana -- hundreds of miles west of the Great Lakes, Cuomo pointed out.

Though the IJC also manages border waterways in the northwest, including those in The Treasure State, Cuomo said U.S. commissioners should have a better understanding of issues affecting the Great Lakes.

"Today we're calling on President Trump to replace those appointees on the IJC (and put forth) appointees who know what they're talking about, who know the Great Lakes," Cuomo said.

Cuomo blamed the higher water levels both on Plan 2014 -- a new, controversial water level regulation plan -- and this year's high precipitation. IJC spokespeople say this April was the rainiest on record, while May's precipitation was among the highest for the month so far.

To Cuomo, the unusually high precipitation was another sign of the devastation caused by global warming. He said in his six years as governor, he has seen twice as many national disasters as his father, Mario Cuomo, who served as governor for 12 years.

"We had Superstorm Sandy, we had floods, hurricanes, etc. -- and now record-breaking heights at Lake Ontario," Cuomo said. "It's undeniable that one of the causes -- or the main cause -- has been rainfall."

"I believe it's more complicated than that, and I also believe it gets into how the situation was regulated," he added.

Cuomo called on the IJC to study the causes of this year's high water levels, and if necessary, make adjustments to water regulation.

The lake's high water levels are unlikely to retreat anytime soon, and state officials acknowledged as much Thursday. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' last weekly update June 30, Lake Ontario is currently 31 inches above the average water level for that date. That's one inch above the highest recorded water level in June.

The ACE predicts the lake will drop seven inches by July 30.

"Experts say it will be several months yet before lake levels drop appreciably," said Howard Zemsky, president and CEO of the Empire State Development Corporation.

The signing ceremony came one week after the Senate and Assembly passed a $45 million relief bill, including $15 million for homeowners, $15 million for businesses and $15 million for municipal infrastructure repairs. The bill also provides $10 million for damages to the Southern Tier caused by a windstorm in 2015.

Last month, the Legislature passed a $90 million relief bill (with $80 million for Lake Ontario flooding) with unanimous support. But Cuomo said that bill had no appropriated funding, and no income cap on how much money an aid-seeking homeowner can earn.

The legislative session ended without Cuomo signing a relief bill.

So last week, Cuomo called lawmakers back to Albany for an extraordinary session to pass flooding relief and other unresolved issues.

The new relief bill provides grants of up to $50,000 for homeowners. There is no income cap for primary homeowners. For non-primary homeowners, there is an income cap of $275,000.

Businesses, not-for-profits, homeowner associations and farms can receive up to $50,000 in grant funds, while landlords are eligible for up to $20,000.

Municipalities are eligible for grants of up to $1 million, as well as up to $500,000 for flood mitigation projects.

Asked about the funding reduction from the previous bill, Cuomo said he expects $45 million to cover damages caused by the lake levels. And if it doesn't, he said, he would push for additional aid.

"That is our estimate of what the damages will be. If the damages exceed the $55 million, I have no problem going to back to the Legislature and getting more money," Cuomo said. "We're not going to run out of money here. We're going to make sure that we honor all the needs."

Local lawmakers commended Cuomo for approving the relief aid and pledging to seek FEMA dollars.

"This state aid underscores the importance of working together on both sides of the aisle to deliver resources to communities, businesses and families in dire need of relief," Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, said in a statement. "Those who have suffered property damage and have been burdened by the devastation will finally receive the help they need to rebuild and move forward."

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