Letter to Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency - Providing Camp Good Days with Designation It Needs to Cover Rebuild Cost & Continue Serving Kids with Cancer

Letter

Dear Administrator Fugate:

As you know, Yates County residents, businesses, and organizations are still recovering and rebuilding from some of the worst flooding in decades. Camp Good Days, a non-profit organization that runs programs for children and adults who have been affected by cancer, is one such organization that was impacted by this past spring's flooding. Camp Good Days has requested FEMA reimbursement for flooding damages totaling an estimated $540,000. In order for Camp Good Days to be eligible for this funding, though, the camp must be designated as providing a critical service to the community. Because Camp Good Days is a private nonprofit organization that provides educational opportunities and respite care, I urge you to provide the camp with a critical services designation so it can continue to perform its vital work for children and adults affected by cancer.

Camp Good Days is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides residential camping programs in Branchport, New York, as well as year-round recreational and support activities in the Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Ithaca areas. All of the programs are provided free of charge to participants, which include children, adults, and families that have been affected by cancer, sickle cell anemia, violence, or other life-threatening illnesses. These programs are fully staffed by licensed doctors, registered nurses, nurses and social workers to ensure the safety and well-being of our campers and staff. Camp Good Days provides educational and fun activities for campers, health services during all weeks of camp, and respite care for families that are affected by cancer. Since its inception in 1979, Camp Good Days has served more than 45,000 campers from 29 different countries and 22 states.

The flooding in Yates County last May damaged facilities and flooded buildings across Camp Good Day's grounds on Keuka Lake. The damages, ranging from building repair and debris removal to emergency protective measures and road and utility repair, totaled an estimated $540,000. Though any facility damaged by flooding provides obvious concerns for residents, many of the campers undergoing cancer treatment have weaker immune systems, and require special protections against mold and allergens. A critical services designation would make Camp Good Days eligible for FEMA Public Assistance funding, allowing the camp to receive grant reimbursements of up to 75 percent of their $540,000 in damages.

I urge you to provide Camp Good Days with a critical services designation, which would make the camp eligible for the funding that it needs to offset the cost of repairing and replacing the flood damage. Camp Good Days provides critical services for children, adults, and families across New York and the rest of the country, and meets the criteria for this special designation. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, and I look forward to your response. Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me or my staff as 202--224--6542.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

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