In a letter sent over the weekend, Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-Elma) urged Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (D-New York) to use existing state disaster relief funds to provide direct relief to homeowners and residents affected earlier this month when the Buffalo Creek flooded in the Town of West Seneca.

Specifically, Gallivan is requesting the Governor use funds from a $200 million appropriation  contained in the 2013-14 State Operations Budget that is intended to assist localities that have suffered from a natural or man-made disaster.

“We have seen New York State step up to the plate after Hurricane Sandy ravaged portions of Long Island and the Greater New York Metropolitan Area, and after recent flooding in Central New York; I believe the Town of West Seneca, its residents and its businesses desperately need the same type of state assistance to expedite the recovery process for this community,” Senator Gallivan said.

Gallivan also sponsored legislation, S.5987, to create supplemental state disaster aid program. This bill passed the Senate January 27, 2014 and is awaiting Assembly action.

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Letter Attached.