Leaders seek emergency funding for Canandaigua homeowners

CANANDAIGUA, NY – Canandaigua, Ontario County and local state legislators are joining together − much as they and the municipalities they represent did in helping residents after a devastating July 9 rainstorm and subsequent flooding − in pressing for emergency funding to help homeowners pay for it.

A letter signed by local state Legislators Pam Helming and Jeff Gallahan dated July 21 to Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York State Division of Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas thanks the state for its response to the flooding disaster in Canandaigua and other parts of Ontario County.

But in the letter, state Sen. Helming, R-Canandaigua, and Assemblyman Gallahan, R-Manchester, along with the backing of other local leaders, are seeking the approval of an emergency repair funding program to assist eligible impacted homeowners in Ontario County.

“Many of these property owners are now in need of assistance for critical and urgent repairs to ensure their homes are safe and habitable,” their letter reads.

Ontario County was included in a federal disaster declaration made last weekend. Helming has also called on the federal government to expedite hazard mitigation funding to New York under the federal STORM Act in order to launch the state’s Hazard Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund. This fund would provide future aid to help local governments reduce disaster risks in their communities.

County and municipal officials estimate that close to 200 homes in Canandaigua were damaged by flooding.

Canandaigua Mayor Bob Palumbo said most of the impacted homeowners in the city are blue-collar workers and retirees, and they need the financial help to recover sooner rather than later. He noted that emergency funds were recently made available to residents affected by flooding in Orange County and he would like to see funding come Ontario County's way too.

“Immediate funding as was sent to Orange County is what’s really needed in Ontario County,” Palumbo said.

State and federal governments have been great partners to local governments here during this time and that partnership needs to continue, said Helming in a prepared statement, noting she has made personal calls to the offices of Hochul and Visnauskas to ask that emergency repair grants be made immediately available to help Ontario County homeowners.

The historic nature of the flooding – nearly 6 inches of rain fell in a roughly 3-hour period, with nearly 4 inches falling in 45 minutes – helps make their case, according to Gallahan. To further illustrate, Canandaigua Town Supervisor Jared Simpson said several homeowners had more than 8 feet of water in their basements while others’ homes sustained irreparable damage.

“Flooding in Ontario County and across the state was something we’ve never seen in our lives in this area,” Gallahan stated. “Now that President Biden has declared a federal disaster for Ontario County, we deserve the same emergency repair funding grants that are being provided to homeowners downstate by Gov. Hochul.”

This push comes as cleanup work, at least that which is visible publicly, draws near the end.

Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises, has completed its work in helping residents and has departed. The last day for city collection of flood debris will be Friday.

Officials are continuing to urge homeowners with damage to first contact their insurance company and document any damage and repairs due to the storm in case funding for private property owners comes through.

FLACE Canandaigua Area Flooding Assistance Recovery Fund has been created to aid in recovery efforts, and Canandaigua National Bank & Trust will match the first $10,000 raised by the community for recovery efforts. The community is encouraged to donate to the Fund online or at area CNB branches. Distribution of the fund will be made to the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, the Salvation Army, and Partnership for Ontario County.

"All the work of volunteers and city and county agencies that came into help and the services of Team Rubicon are all very much appreciated," Palumbo said.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Local leaders seek emergency funding for Canandaigua NY homeowners