Schumer, Gillibrand Urge FEMA, SA to Be Ready to Swiftly Approve Disaster Declaration for Up to Six Severely Impacted Finger Lakes Counties
Press Release
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand urged FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to be ready to swiftly approve New York State's anticipated request for federal support in light of the severe flooding in the Finger Lakes, if the damage assessment meets the federal threshold. Specifically, Schumer and Gillibrand are requesting FEMA quickly approve of a disaster declaration for the impacted counties that include Yates, Ontario, Livingston, Wayne, Seneca, and Monroe Counties if it qualifies. The Senators also wrote to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet following a Wednesday tour by SBA officials to the region to perform a Preliminary Damage Assessment. If a disaster caused physical damage to 25 homes or business structures in excess of 40% of the uninsured value, the state can apply to the SBA for an SBA Disaster Declaration. Once awarded the SBA can offer low-interest loans to renters, homeowners, and businesses to make repairs, replace household items, or clean up debris in the designated counties and in any contiguous counties.
"It is critical that we get federal resources on the ground as soon as possible, so that Yates County and the other impacted Finger Lakes counties can recover and rebuild after this severe weather," said Schumer. "So we want FEMA and the SBA to stand ready to approve a federal disaster declaration and provide all forms of available aid for impacted municipalities, farmers homeowners and businesses. This federal disaster assistance is necessary because it will give reassurance to our communities that the federal government will be there to help respond and recover."
"Severe flooding has washed away roads and flooded homes and main street businesses in Yates County and throughout the Finger Lakes Region," said Senator Gillibrand. "Countless residents and small business owners sustained damage, which is why federal assistance is so important. I will continue to work to ensure that all possible resources are brought to bear to ensure a full recovery for all of our impacted communities."
Beginning May 13 and continuing through May 16, emergency crews worked conducting evacuations and water rescues as a result of the worst flooding to hit the region in over forty years. A state of emergency has been declared by the Governor in Yates County and Penn Yan schools were closed. Several buildings in Penn Yan suffered major damage. The flooding caused the Owl's Nest, a former community center that was being rehabbed on Seneca Street to collapse. The Finger Lakes Economic Development Center (FLEDC) Chief Executive Officer, Steve Griffin has said his initial estimate for damaged businesses is at least 50 million, adding that damage estimates from "just a handful of those businesses," could total more than $3 million. Parts of Route 364 were also closed because ditches and culverts running underneath the state road washed out.
In the event a FEMA Disaster declaration is requested and approved, impacted municipalities could receive up to 75% reimbursement for the cost to repair public infrastructure. If an SBA declaration is requested an approved, the SBA can provide qualified recipients with low interest loans up to $40,000 to renters and homeowners to replace personal property, $200,000 to homeowners to repair, replace, or clean up damaged homes, and up to $2 million to business owners to repair damaged businesses. Interest rates are set quarterly but currently can be as low as 2.188% for homeowners and as low as 4% for businesses. Camp Good Days, a popular summer camp on Keuka Lake, for example, suffered a reported $250,000 worth of damage and an SBA loan would help the camp cover the immediate cleanup costs. Camp Good Days is hoping to clean up the damage before the camp is scheduled to open this summer.
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