Over 100 people apply for storm relief in Steuben County

CANISTEO, N.Y. ( WETM ) — More than a hundred Steuben County residents are seeking recovery help from the damages inflicted by Tropical Storm Debby. People were able to file for relief during a three-day flood relief resource event held this week at three locations in Canisteo, Greenwood, and Woodhull.

Jacqueline Saunders a flood victim of Pulteney, stated that she has damaged equipment, lost personal items, and has mud in her house.

“Pretty much that’s it, but the yard needs a lot of work too, and the walkway and just more than you could think would be affected,” said Saunders.

Jill Knapp is applying for relief to help her family; she added that her family’s farmhouse was damaged with up to 12 feet of water in her basement and the first floor.

Tropical Storm Debby is the second storm in three years that is impacting local communities since Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. Steuben County Director of Public Safety Timothy Marshall thinks that the infrastructure damage from Debby is worse than Fred.

“I’m not sure if residential flooding was as bad as it was during Fred, but the damages that individuals are seeing from Debbie are very similar to what we saw in Fred,” said Marshall. “Individuals basements being flooded, some flooding of homes. I believe we have many more homes condemned this time than we did during Fred.”

According to Marshall, another flood relief event will be taking place on Monday, August 19, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Civil Defense Center in the town of Bath.

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