Mohawk Valley Nine request state’s assistance for flooding victims

Following FEMA’s decision to deny individual assistance to the victims of last fall’s flooding, members of the Mohawk Valley Nine sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday requesting the state provide additional financial assistance to those affected in the region.

The legislators also requested an expeditious meeting with Cuomo to discuss the issue further.

The Mohawk Valley Nine is a bipartisan coalition of state legislators representing Herkimer, Madison and Oneida counties.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Gov. Cuomo:

We are writing regarding FEMA’s recent decision to deny individual assistance to the victims of devastating flooding that occurred in Oneida County and the Mohawk Valley this past fall. This is a disappointing and upsetting decision that will affect many in the region and throughout New York State.

Many residents have already spent thousands of dollars on repairs and face spending more to repair damages from this past flooding event. A number of residents are still displaced, and hundreds have lost their personal property and belongings. These flooding episodes, which are happening with more frequency, pose a public safety risk

to individuals, families and first responders, wreak havoc on infrastructure and financially burden local governments that are tasked with cleaning up after these events.

Local elected officials, such as Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr., are to be commended for the work they have done — and continue to do — in establishing financial assistance to help those affected by severe weather. However, we recognize that these local officials cannot go it alone. It is imperative that resources at all levels of government are made available when disaster strikes.

As you are aware, New York State has provided additional financial assistance to regions of the state hit hard by flooding and extreme weather in the past. This has included buyout assistance for Staten Island residents affected by Hurricane Sandy, as well as:

* $13 million was provide by the state for recovery and restoration efforts following flooding in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes.

* $8 million for secondary homeowners affected by flooding along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

* $300 million for shoreline improvements along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, of which $20 million is dedicated to home restoration.

We respectfully request an expeditious meeting due to the urgency of the matter and that similar attention and resources be provided to property and business owners in the Mohawk Valley.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, state Sen. Joseph A. Griffo, state Sen. James L. Seward, Assemblyman Brian D. Miller, state Sen. Rachel May, Assemblyman Kenneth D. Blankenbush, Assemblyman Robert Smullen, state Sen. James N. Tedisco and Assemblyman John J. Salka