Governor Cuomo Announces $2.9 Million in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Funds for Shoreline Municipalities

ALBANY, New York, April 16 -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-New York, issued the following news release:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the awarding of $2.9 million in Lake Ontario Flood Relief funds to local governments in Wayne, Orleans, Niagara, Cayuga, and Jefferson counties dedicated to restoration resiliency and recovery efforts following last year's flooding and to protect the community from the damage of future storms. The State has committed $95 million to recovery efforts to support homeowners, small businesses, and community infrastructure.

"The Lake Ontario shoreline experienced historic and damaging flooding last year, and we continue to stand with New Yorkers whose communities are still recovering," Governor Cuomo said. "This funding supports our mission to build back stronger and smarter and help every impacted town and resident get back on their feet."

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said, "Having walked through flooded communities seeing the destruction firsthand, I know the devastating impact the Lake Ontario flooding had on people in the area. This investment continues our commitment for local governments to build resiliency and invest in critically important infrastructure improvements for the future."

The funding is part of the State's $95 million commitment to the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence Seaway Shorelines. The recovery program started with an initial $45 million commitment for aid to residents, small businesses, and municipalities affected by the flood. It was supplemented with two $5 million grants from the State and Municipal Facilities Program to bolster previous relief and provide necessary financial assistance to recovery efforts. The Fiscal Year 2019 State Budget recently signed by Governor Cuomo included an additional $40 million for the recovery program. The projects supported by the grants include shoreline reconstruction and stabilization, reimbursement for emergency repairs during the flooding, and seawall reconstruction.

Following last year's flooding of both Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway, which damaged homes, businesses, and local infrastructure, Governor Cuomo and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services coordinated with county and local partners to monitor water levels and deliver resources, including millions of sandbags and the construction of thousands of feet of temporary dams. Governor Cuomo has also directed state agencies to begin implementing proactive measures to assist residents, business owners, and local governments in the event of flooding this year on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

Just last month, with water in the lake still high, the Governor issued a letter to the U.S. Chair of the International Joint Commission requesting that the entity maximize outflows from the Lake Ontario system to reduce the flooding risk for New Yorkers living and working along the shoreline.

The window for applications for the recovery program has closed. The deadline for homeowner applications for assistance in relief and recovery was September 29, 2017. The deadline for municipality applications was December 29, 2017 and the deadline for small businesses was December 31, 2017. Homeowners wishing to appeal a determination regarding eligibility should email LakeOntario@nyshcr.org.

RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner of New York State Homes and Community Renewal said, "This funding is essential to our Lake Ontario communities in supporting their efforts to recover from last year's flooding. Thanks to Governor Cuomo's leadership, our shoreline communities are building back stronger than ever before."

Senator Pam Helming said, "Municipalities like the Town of Wolcott and Village of Fair Haven are still recovering from the devastation of last year's historic flooding along Lake Ontario's southern shoreline. It is important that we continue our efforts at every level of government to ensure that we give municipalities and homeowners the help they need to recover and prevent further damage. With lake levels still high, this additional funding will help Wolcott and Fair Haven rebuild critical infrastructure to mitigate future flood damage. I thank Governor Cuomo and my colleagues in the Legislature for fulfilling the state's commitment to relief and recovery efforts."

Senator Robert G. Ortt said, "Our state made a promise and a commitment to the residents, small businesses, and local governments of Orleans, Monroe and Niagara counties that we would help them rebuild. Today, we're taking an important step. Significant work remains, especially for recovering homeowners, but these funds will help municipalities rebuild critical infrastructure damaged in last year's flooding and upgrade moving forward. We'll continue to advocate for relief funding until residents, businesses, and municipalities receive the resources that they need to rebuild."

Senator Patty Ritchie said, "In the wake of last year's historic flooding, numerous people throughout Central and Northern New York stepped up to help those in need. Despite the time and cost, the Town of Lyme and its area volunteer fire departments, spent countless hours helping people by filling sandbags, coming to the aid of those whose homes were flooded and more. This is one of many examples of why relief funding is so important, and why I was proud to help secure new funding in the new state budget--nearly doubling the amount of money available to help ensure the people, small businesses and municipalities affected by last year's flooding, are able to fully recover."

Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne said, "This award is important for the town of Lyme. Like many communities in our region, the town suffered heavy infrastructure damage during the flooding last spring and summer and invested considerable resources in equipment and manpower to address the flooding issues in real time. This funding will be important for the town's recovery efforts and make improvements to make the shoreline area more resilient in the case of future high water level episodes. I applaud Gov. Cuomo for recognizing the importance of working with our communities as they recover from the flood damage and supporting our efforts to invest additional funds in the recently passed state budget to continue that work."

Assemblyman Michael J. Norris said, "I was proud to work with my colleagues in the State Legislature and with Governor Cuomo to make sure that this critical funding was made available to local governments in Western New York that were impacted by the flooding and erosion caused by the extreme lake levels. This funding will help make our community infrastructure more secure and to repair damage caused by the high-water levels of Lake Ontario."

Assemblyman Bob Oaks said, "I have been pleased to work with legislators and the Governor in a bi-partisan effort to respond to last year's historic flooding. Flood relief funds are critical for all of these communities to recover, rebuild and protect property and public infrastructure in the future."

Wayne County Chairman Steven LeRoy said, "The support delivered by Governor Cuomo to fund the strengthening of shoreline infrastructure in Wolcott will be key to protecting the town from future flooding. We cannot thank him enough for his commitment to our recovery from last year's flooding."

Orleans County Legislature Chair Lynne Johnson said, "This support represents an important step in the state's ongoing commitment to shouldering the burden of recovery brought on by last year's devastating flooding. With the lake already high, we are thankful to Governor Cuomo for his leadership in delivering these funds, which will help our communities reinforce their shorelines so that we are prepared for the next flood."

Niagara County Legislature Chairman Keith McNall said, "The reinforcement of our shoreline will prove to be critical in protecting our families and businesses from Lake Ontario's rising waters. Governor Cuomo is living up to his commitment to or shoreline communities and we are grateful for it."

Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Pat Mahunik said, "The reconstruction of a seawall in Fair Haven and other fixes along the shoreline supported by these funds are essential to securing this community from further damage. Thanks to Governor Cuomo's leadership, we know we are not alone in our recovery."

Jefferson County Legislature Chairman Scott Gray said, "Governor Cuomo's assistance is to alleviate cost incurred by the Town of Lyme for last year's lake and river shore flooding is greatly appreciated. The Governor was on board at the time to assist with personnel from state agencies, National Guard and equipment to help mitigate the damages and he continues to be on board by recognizing the impact on the Town of Lyme for hosting the county wide operation. The Governor is always responsive to weather related issues and that is valued as we work together to diminish effects on our residents."

Wayne County $1 million

* The Town of Wolcott (Wayne County) has been awarded $1,000,000 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to make construct an approximately 200-foot revetment along the Lake Ontario shoreline that will mitigate future flood damage and protect the most critical Town infrastructure.

Orleans County: $812,450

* The Town of Yates (Orleans County) has been awarded $414,500 in CDBG Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to make repairs and reconstruct approximately 700-feet of Lake Ontario shoreline that was damaged as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event at various locations.

* The Town of Kendall (Orleans County) has been awarded $397,950 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to mitigate future shoreline erosion along Lake Ontario as well as stabilize the existing shoreline with the use of stone rip rap and other geotextile material.

Niagara County: $558,440

* Niagara County has been awarded $199,865 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to reimburse themselves for necessary emergency repairs and expenses incurred as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event. The expenses incurred included funds for shoreline restoration and reconstruction, from Youngstown to the Niagara County line, as well as funds related to materials and labor.

* The Village of Wilson (Niagara County) has been awarded $10,263 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to reimburse themselves for necessary emergency repairs and expenses incurred, including the purchase of a new trash pump for the Village's wastewater treatment plant, as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event.

* The Town of Porter (Niagara County) has been awarded $348,312 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to mitigate future shoreline erosion along the Town's Fort Niagara Beach as well as stabilize up to 300-feet of the existing shoreline with the construction of stone rip-rap and rubble.

Cayuga County: $400,000

* The Village of Fair Haven (Cayuga County) has been awarded $400,000 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to make repairs to village infrastructure that was damaged as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event at various locations. The Town will reconstruct protective seawalls surrounding several public parks along the Lake Ontario shoreline and will also make necessary infrastructure repairs around and adjacent to the shoreline.

Jefferson County: $215,468

* The Town of Lyme (Jefferson County) has been awarded $215,468 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to both reimburse themselves for necessary emergency repairs and expenses incurred as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event and to make future repairs to the Town's public infrastructure. The expenses incurred included funds related to materials and labor. The future repairs include the reconstruction of roads and culverts.