Could Canandaigua residents finally see flood relief? Here's why there's hope.

CANANDAIGUA, NY – Could homeowners in Canandaigua and elsewhere in Ontario County see relief after they were left with huge messes and huge bills after a devastating rainstorm July 9 and subsequent flooding?

The news that the state of New York is appealing the denial of individual assistance to residents and homeowners in the city of Canandaigua and other parts of the county as well as downstate Orange County is being seen as a sign of hope.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who visited Canandaigua the day after the rainstorm that dumped 5.8 inches of rain in a three-hour period, announced in a statement late last week the appeal on behalf of property owners in both counties.

“With climate change continuing to increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters, we will always fight to ensure eligible New Yorkers can access every possible federal dollar to recover and rebuild after devastating storms,” Hochul said in the statement.

State Sen. Pam Helming, R-Canandaigua, who along with state Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan, R-Manchester, have been fighting to ensure property owners are treated fairly, said the governor is right to appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision.

The legislators earlier in the year had successfully lobbied the governor for emergency repair grant funding to be made available to the 200 or so residents who lost appliances, water heaters and furnaces and sustained damage to their homes in the flooding. Some of the residents reported water 4 to 5 feet deep in their homes.

But many were not eligible; for example, regulations require a damaged home to be owner occupied but many who lost appliances and other items were tenants. Many residents also lost out on money already spent on cleanup costs and immediately replacing critical items like furnaces damaged in the flooding because those expenses cannot be reimbursed, the legislators charged.

“It is ridiculous that flood recovery dollars are not available to the majority of Ontario County property owners who need it,” Helming said in a statement. “These programs need to be fully re-evaluated to ensure that property owners get appropriately reimbursed for their expenses.”

Canandaigua City Manager John Goodwin said he and other city officials appreciate the efforts of the local legislators and governor.

“Obviously, we all understand our residents are in great need,” Goodwin said. “We hope the appeal is successful and we can get the assistance to the residents that need it.”

Since the flooding, Helming has had multiple conversations with the governor’s office and the commissioner’s office at New York State Homes and Community Renewal about the need to reform eligibility requirements and other parameters of these programs.

“This is something I intend to bring into the next legislative session that begins in January,” Helming said.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Flood relief for Canandaigua residents? Gov. Hochul appeals for it