CHENANGO COUNTY – Nearly one month after heavy flooding ravaged parts of the county, local legislatures are still awaiting detailed damage reports from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to determine how much in federal assistance area municipalities will receive for repairs to local infrastructure.
FEMA and local officials will work together in the coming weeks to survey the damage caused by flooding. Upon completion of the survey, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations that have accumulated more than $1,000 in damages will be eligible for 75 percent the cost of repairs through FEMA. The remaining 25 percent will be split between state and county, each kicking in 12.5 percent.
“We might not have qualified for FEMA assistance to homeowners, but getting a little help for non-profits and municipalities is definitely helpful,” said Chenango County Emergency Management Coordinator Matthew Beckwith.
Estimated flood damage in Sherburne alone tops $810,000, Beckwith added. Town supervisors across the county have been encouraged to work with their respective highway superintendents to identify other areas of concern that may help them qualify for public assistance.
In North Norwich, flood waters washed out nearly 50 feet of pavement and a culvert underlying Tracy Road, a Route 12 bypass just south of the Town of Sherburne. Preliminary estimates for repairs to the section of road currently stand at $125,000.
“Our highway supervisor has been vigilant in documenting damages and getting the necessary paperwork for FEMA and SEMA assistance to repair it,” said North Norwich Supervisor Robert Wansor.
FEMA provides money for disaster mitigation as well, Wansor pointed out, meaning the township may receive funding to rebuild Tracy Road in a way that prevents similar damage from flooding in the future. “This section of road has been damaged several times over the last ten years ... we want to rebuild it in a way that is better than it was so that it will hopefully prevent washouts in the future,” he added.
