Cuomo deploys mobile command centers to assist Lake Ontario flood victims with insurance claims
Photo by Tom Rivers: Warren Kruger, Kendall town highway superintendent, checks a backyard on Ed Rose Shores on Sunday. Kendall has distributed nearly 40,000 sand bags the past two weeks.
Center will be at OC Marine Park on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Governor Cuomo today announced that Department of Financial Services Mobile Command Centers will be deployed to the region to provide insurance help to residents affected by the flooding along Lake Ontario.
Additionally, Cuomo is formally requesting assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under their Advanced Measures and Emergency Ops Flood Fighting Programs. Together, these programs can deploy federal resources to prevent loss of life and protect critical public facilities and infrastructure. Corps assistance may include the construction of temporary flood barriers to protect communities, and the positioning of additional personnel and equipment to expand ongoing state and local efforts.
Sandbagging operations remain active in the region and as of today, 771,000 sandbags and seven sandbaggers have been distributed by the state to shoreline communities to protect homes, businesses and infrastructure from rising water levels. Some coastline roadways and lawns have standing water, and many docks and boat launches are submerged. To date, there have been no evacuations.
“Water levels are continuing to rise, threatening homes and businesses in the Lake Ontario region,” Cuomo said. “By deploying these mobile command centers to help residents with insurance claims, we continue to take aggressive action to protect the people who live and work in the affected communities.”
Last week, Governor Cuomo declared a State of Emergency in Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wayne counties in order to expedite repair to impacted structures and construction of shoreline stabilization projects.
Additionally, at the Governor’s direction, a coordinated Lake Ontario Rapid Response Team was sent to the region which includes experts from the State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, State Police and Office of General Services, along with city and county agencies.
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management continues to coordinate with county and local partners in monitoring the rising levels of Lake Ontario and additional resources from state stockpiles have been shifted to locations in Monroe county in the event that conditions worsen.
The DFS Mobile Command Center will be at the following locations over the next three days. The state will also deploy two additional Mobile Command Centers with more locations and dates to be announced soon:
• Monroe County, Wednesday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Town of Greece Department of Public Works, 647 Long Pond Rd., Rochester.
• Orleans County, Thursday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Orleans County Marine Park in Carlton, Point Breeze Road (Route 98)
• Niagara County, Friday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Olcott Fire Company, 1691 Lockport-Olcott Rd. in Newfane.
Currently, assets have been deployed to the following counties:
• Cayuga County – 1 Sandbagger, 75,000 Sandbags
• Jefferson County – 70,000 sandbags, 1 inmate crew from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to fill sandbags
• Monroe County – 2 sandbaggers, 172,000 Sandbags
• Niagara County – 1 sandbagger, 60,000 sandbags, 6″ pump with 100 feet of suction and 300 feet of discharge hose for Town of Olcott
• Orleans County – 90,000 sandbags, 4 inmate crews from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision which consists of six to eight inmates per crew to fill sandbags
• Oswego County – 1 sandbagger, 89,000 sandbags, State sandbagging operations continue at the Department of Transportation facility in Mapleview with NYS Department of Transportation personnel
• St. Lawrence County – 10,000 sandbags
• Wayne County – 2 sandbagger, 205,000 sandbags, 1 additional sandbagger, loaned from Ontario County is also operational
The Department of Environmental Conservation continues to provide support to communities through expedited permitting, site inspections, and technical guidance.
DEC Region 8, which includes Monroe, Orleans, and Wayne counties, has received 24 applications. Three General Permits has been issued, as well as nine Individual Permits, and eight Emergency Authorizations. Remaining applications under review.
Property owners can contact DEC Region 8 for assistance with obtaining permits for on-site corrective actions or site inspections. Contact the Regional Permit Administrator, 6274 East Avon – Lima Road, Avon, NY 14414-9519. Phone: 585-226-5400; Fax: 585-226-2830; or email: dep.r8@dec.ny.gov.
