Flooding Help For Homeowners, Businesses and Municipalities

I know how devastating the high water levels are for so many people in our region—and I want to share new information to help homeowners, municipalities and businesses impacted by flooding on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

$7 million is available for homeowners to help them make repairs to property damaged by floodwaters.  For more information, individuals are encouraged to contact New York State Homes and Community Renewal at ocrinfo@nyshcr.org or call 518-474-2057.

$10 million in state funding is available to assist eligible municipalities impacted by recent flooding with repairs to public water and sewer infrastructure, as well as repairs to things like roads, sidewalks and culverts. Applications for this funding are available by visiting the New York State Home and Community renewal website, www.nyshcr.org.  In addition, the Governor also just recently signed into law a measure I cosponsored, which accelerates the availability of emergency funding through the state’s Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017.

Small businesses impacted by recent flooding will be able to tap into $5 million in funding, which will provide grants of up to $20,000 to assist with costs associated with repairing or replacing property.  Applications for funding will soon be available.

The state will continue to set up Mobile Command Centers in our region to offer technical guidance, provide on-site emergency permitting to residents and offer insurance help. For a schedule, visit my website, ritchie.nysenate.gov. 

In an effort to reduce wave action and damage to property, there is now a five miles per hour speed limit for vessels operating within 600 feet of shore on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. 

I am hopeful the above relief will help as we try to recover. As always, please also feel free to reach out to my office should you have any questions or need assistance with an issue regarding flooding.