Kendall, Yates will share $812,450 in state funds for flood protection
File photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from last December shows waves bearing down on a new breakwall along Lomond Shores in Kendall.
Press Release, Gov. Cuomo’s Office
Two towns in Orleans County have been approved for state funding for flood relief projects.
The Town of Yates has been awarded $414,500 in Community Development Block Grant Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to make repairs and reconstruct approximately 700 feet of Lake Ontario shoreline that was damaged as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event at various locations.
The Town of Kendall has been awarded $397,950 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to mitigate future shoreline erosion along Lake Ontario as well as stabilize the existing shoreline with the use of stone rip rap and other geotextile material.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Monday the funding of $2.9 million in Lake Ontario Flood Relief funds to local governments in Wayne, Orleans, Niagara, Cayuga, and Jefferson counties. The projects are dedicated to restoration resiliency and recovery efforts following last year’s flooding and to protect the community from the damage of future storms. The state has committed $95 million to recovery efforts to support homeowners, small businesses, and community infrastructure, Cuomo said.
“The Lake Ontario shoreline experienced historic and damaging flooding last year, and we continue to stand with New Yorkers whose communities are still recovering,” Cuomo said. “This funding supports our mission to build back stronger and smarter and help every impacted town and resident get back on their feet.”
The window for applications for the recovery program has closed. The deadline for homeowner applications for assistance in relief and recovery was September 29, 2017. The deadline for municipality applications was December 29, 2017 and the deadline for small businesses was December 31, 2017. Homeowners wishing to appeal a determination regarding eligibility should email LakeOntario@nyshcr.org.
“Our state made a promise and a commitment to the residents, small businesses, and local governments of Orleans, Monroe and Niagara counties that we would help them rebuild,” Senator Robert G. Ortt said on Monday. “Today, we’re taking an important step. Significant work remains, especially for recovering homeowners, but these funds will help municipalities rebuild critical infrastructure damaged in last year’s flooding and upgrade moving forward. We’ll continue to advocate for relief funding until residents, businesses, and municipalities receive the resources that they need to rebuild.”
“This support represents an important step in the state’s ongoing commitment to shouldering the burden of recovery brought on by last year’s devastating flooding,” said Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson. “With the lake already high, we are thankful to Governor Cuomo for his leadership in delivering these funds, which will help our communities reinforce their shorelines so that we are prepared for the next flood.”
Besides Orleans County, the funding approved includes:
• Wayne County $1 million
The Town of Wolcott has been awarded $1,000,000 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to make construct an approximately 200-foot revetment along the Lake Ontario shoreline that will mitigate future flood damage and protect the most critical Town infrastructure.
• Niagara County: $558,440
Niagara County has been awarded $199,865 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to reimburse themselves for necessary emergency repairs and expenses incurred as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event. The expenses incurred included funds for shoreline restoration and reconstruction, from Youngstown to the Niagara County line, as well as funds related to materials and labor.
The Village of Wilson has been awarded $10,263 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to reimburse themselves for necessary emergency repairs and expenses incurred, including the purchase of a new trash pump for the Village’s wastewater treatment plant, as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event.
The Town of Porter has been awarded $348,312 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief Program funds to mitigate future shoreline erosion along the Town’s Fort Niagara Beach as well as stabilize up to 300-feet of the existing shoreline with the construction of stone rip-rap and rubble.
• Cayuga County: $400,000
The Village of Fair Haven has been awarded $400,000 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to make repairs to village infrastructure that was damaged as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event at various locations. The Town will reconstruct protective seawalls surrounding several public parks along the Lake Ontario shoreline and will also make necessary infrastructure repairs around and adjacent to the shoreline.
• Jefferson County: $215,468
The Town of Lyme has been awarded $215,468 in Lake Ontario Flood Relief CDBG Program funds to both reimburse themselves for necessary emergency repairs and expenses incurred as a result of the 2017 Lake Ontario flood event and to make future repairs to the Town’s public infrastructure. The expenses incurred included funds related to materials and labor. The future repairs include the reconstruction of roads and culverts.
