Schumer Urges Feds To Swiftly Approve Village Of Gowanda's Application For Funding For Repairs To Reservoir Damaged By MAssive 2014 Flooding -- Project Would Reduce Future Flood Damage & Help Avoid Costly Battle Against Flood Waters Year After Year

Press Release

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today to swiftly review and approve the village of Gowanda's application for funding to repair the Point Peter Reservoir System, which was damaged by the May 2014 flooding. The severe storms in Western New York brought severe rain and flooding to Cattaraugus County, including the Village of Gowanda. Roads were washed out, homes were flooded, and public buildings were severely damaged. Schumer will say the Point Peter Reservoir, which serves as the village's main water reservoir, has remained unusable while village officials had been working with engineers to identify the problems and create a plan to get the reservoir back up and running, and the village recently submitted that plan and request for funding to FEMA for approval. Because the reservoir has not been available for more than a year, the village has remained under a state of emergency. During that time, the village has received its drinking water from a single backup well, which Schumer will say, is not a sustainable option.

"The Village of Gowanda has worked hard to study and plan a way forward to both repair their damaged reservoir, but also to prevent future damage. When flood waters overtook roads, homes and destroyed the Point Peter Reservoir it was a huge blow the community. Before the storm -- the reservoir provided clean drinking water to all the residents in the Village of Gowanda," said Senator Schumer. "But, today the reservoir is still completely out of operation. That means the village has been depending on a backup well, which isn't a sustainable solution. That is why I am urging FEMA to swiftly approve the Village of Gowanda's application for funding to repair the damage. Living in a state of emergency for over a year is not something any town, village or county in America should have to deal with, so I am putting FEMA on notice that this project is a priority for Gowanda and a priority for me."

The May 2014 flood came as the Village of Gowanda was still rebuilding from an even worse flood in 2009. When the 2014 floods overtook the area again, it made the recovery process even more difficult for local officials because previous damages were exacerbated. Senator Schumer's involvement came on the early onset and he continues to keep FEMA's feet to the fire by helping to address the Cattaraugus Creek flooding in 2009, and the most recent flood damages from 2014. Senator Schumer has said he will fight to ensure that the Village of Gowanda has access to vital FEMA funding to make repairs and prevent further damage from future disasters.

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