Gov. Kathy Hochul on Saturday requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Biden to support the ongoing recovery efforts of upstate New York counties impacted by the severe weather caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby in early August.
If granted by the federal government, Hochul said this declaration would provide federal funding for Steuben, Allegany, Broome, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Ontario, St. Lawrence and Yates counties to cover debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure.
“After Tropical Storm Debby caused widespread damage across New York State, I’m requesting an emergency declaration from our federal partners to bring help to the communities in need,” Hochul said. “We must provide relief to areas impacted by the storm, and my administration will take every measure necessary to ensure their speedy and full recovery.”
A Major Disaster Declaration secures financial assistance from the federal government, primarily through FEMA's Public Assistance Program, to provide funding to local governments and eligible non-profits for debris removal, protective measures, and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment facilities, critical infrastructure sites, schools, parks and other facilities.
“This is a major step forward and it’s something that we desperately need to be able to make decisions on the repairs and bring money into Steuben County to fix our roads, bridges, and all infrastructure,” said Tim Marshall, Steuben County Office of Emergency Management Director.
Marshall said he estimates the damage to county roads, bridges and infrastructure to be around $50 million .
Following a disaster, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Disaster Recovery Programs works directly with counterparts at FEMA and impacted local governments to assess damages caused by, and costs related to, the disaster. Once these assessments are complete, FEMA validates whether the state and impacted counties have reached the required federal damage thresholds for a Major Disaster Declaration.
Southern Tier counties were the subject of a Major Disaster Declaration in 2021 when similar flooding from Tropical Storm Fred ripped through the area.
Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-23rd District) released a letter to President Biden Saturday also urging the swift approval of a Major Disaster Declaration request.
"After touring the hardest-hit areas and speaking directly with residents, it's clear that the Southern Tier needs support from FEMA to recover and rebuild from Hurricane Debby,” said Langworthy. “Allegany and Steuben counties have suffered millions of dollars in damages to roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure. These are communities that were still recovering from flooding in 2021 — I urge President Biden to approve this disaster declaration request so we can deliver the support these communities need to get back on their feet and start rebuilding their lives.”
Tropical Storm Debby devastated parts of Southern Tier
The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which hit the area on Aug. 8-10, produced severe rainfall causing major flooding, particularly in the Southern Tier, Central New York and the North Country.
The National Weather Service observed 5.38 inches of rain in less than 12 hours in Steuben County and widespread rainfall rates of 2-2.5 inches per hour across multiple counties.
Also, the National Weather Service placed 17 New York counties under a flood watch, and a tornado watch was issued to 26 counties, officials said. During the event, 20 flash flood warnings were issued, including two flash flood emergencies, which indicate an imminent threat to life and safety.
The heavy rainfall and flooding significantly damaged or destroyed transportation systems, critical public infrastructure and private property.
Individuals were evacuated from their homes and shelters were set up by American Red Cross and local governments. Local roadways and bridges were completely submerged or washed out throughout the impacted areas, which will take weeks or months to repair.
In some areas, roadway damage was so severe that initial assessments were delayed.
Straight line winds and microbursts uprooted mature trees and caused damages throughout the affected counties. Many roadways were deemed unpassable due to downed trees and debris or structural damage and full washouts. Heavy rainfall washed out shoulders, causing culverts to plug up which led to widespread flooding to roadways and the surrounding areas. Strong winds downed trees and damaged power lines which caused widespread power outages.
“Helping communities access the federal funding they deserve is a top priority for Governor Hochul,” said Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Service Commissioner Jackie Bray. “State agencies were there to help our local government partners respond immediately after the storm, and those impacted by the damage from the rainfall associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby now need federal assistance to conduct much-needed repair and mitigation work.”
After the storms, Hochul announced grants of up to $50,000 to be available to eligible homeowners in Allegany, Delaware, Franklin, Steuben and St. Lawrence Counties to address health and safety-related repairs not covered by insurance or other disaster relief programs.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hochul seeks 'desperately needed' Major Disaster Declaration for flood-ravaged counties
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