Whitesboro seeks federal grant for flood buyout program

An informal village meeting was held Monday night in Whitesboro where Mayor Bob Friedlander talked about potential grant money available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that could allow for a home buyout program for homes damaged during Halloween flooding.

The New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) announced on August 24 the availability of $3.7 million available through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Friedlander, working alongside the Whitesboro Water Warriors, quickly set up Monday's meeting after being made aware of the news.

"It's not a quick fix," Friedlander said of the grant process, stating an elected official he had spoken with that faced a similar situation said it took four years. "There is no quick fix."

Heavy rain fell on the region Oct. 31 last year, causing widespread flooding that caused millions of dollars in damages and killed one man in Herkimer County. On Jan. 2, FEMA denied New York's request for aid to individual homeowners.

Officials said in early August there still are six to eight homeowners dealing with the aftermath of the flooding.

Village officials must submit a letter of intent to the state by Sept. 30. This includes residents once again having to declare how much damage the flooding caused.

Friedlander said residents can change their minds about accepting potential aid, but can only accept it if they submit their information to be part of the intent letter.

Whitestown Town Supervisor Shaun Kaleta was unable to attend Monday's meeting, but said he supported Friedlander and the town going after the grant.

"We realize there is a lot more we have to do to secure the funding we ultimately deserve," he said.

Kaleta said the area needed to look at multiple solutions for the flooding, including flood plain benches, smarter development and buyouts.

RESIDENT REACTION

Resident's reaction to the possible grant news was met with a mixture of optimism and weariness. Some questioned how long the proposal takes, what is currently being done and if other municipalities should shoulder the blame for the flood damages in Whitesboro.

"My biggest complaint is it takes three to five years," said Claudia Laneve, whose home on the corner of Gardner and Main streets suffered significant damage. "In the meantime, we're going to have another flood."

Laneve said previously that she lost her furnace and water heater, her driveway is torn up and the garage is full of mold with crumbling walls. She was able to stay in her home thanks to the help of sump pumps.

On Monday, Laneve said some repairs had been done, but said she cannot file an insurance claim following the one she filed following a previous flooding. If she were to file a claim, Laneve said her rates would go up 18 percent every year for the next five years.

Jan Zabek, the owner of Boulevard Trailers and two homes in Whitesboro, said he is interested in the potential for possible buyouts, but added he wanted to go further. Zabek said he wanted a lawsuit filed against Whitestown because of the "poorly designed" flood bench program the town has been implementing.

Zabek said the flooding downstream was caused by the benches.

A floodplain bench is a low-lying area constructed along waterways to temporarily store floodwaters. Whitestown has constructed two of these already and will soon begin the third. Phase One of the town's floodplain bench project involved installing two flood benches along a one-mile-plus corridor of lower Sauquoit Creek on Commercial Drive.

Phase Two involves the installation of a third floodplain bench and five new culverts near the CSX bridge. Kaleta has said the culverts will be installed later this fall, followed by the flood bench.

The entire flood bench project will cost an estimated $14 million. So far, the entire project has been funded through grant money.

Local, state and federal officials released an in-depth study on the Halloween flood earlier in August. The study includes several modifications it feels can help alleviate flooding in the area. The flood plain benches, especially Phase Two, are among the modifications.

Friedlander spoke in support of the benches Monday, also adding in work the village is or has done already to help.

Boulevard Trailers on Oriskany Boulevard was among the areas devastated during the Oct. 31 flooding.

The damage included 11 trailer units, which is about a third of what's typically kept at Boulevard Trailers, Zabek said earlier this year. He said this was the first time any of the units were damaged. Nine trailers were lost due to the flooding, he said Monday.

Zabek said in January the flood caused $200,000 in damage at his business and another combined $27,000 for his two homes on Gardner and Main streets.

"Every single bit I am going to blame on the town of Whitestown," he said.

Tammy and Bill Patterson are hopeful for a potential buyout. They said their Sauquoit Street home sustained $60,000 in damages during the Halloween flooding. The Pattersons said they lost the foundation on the home and have not been back since.

The Pattersons lived in the home for 32 years and said the flooding has gotten worse in the last decade.

"Every time it rains, we get that feeling," Bill Patterson said, alluding to the worry of more flooding to come.

___

(c)2020 Observer-Dispatch, Utica, N.Y.

Visit Observer-Dispatch, Utica, N.Y. at www.uticaod.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.