Sep 4, 2019
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For Immediate Release: 8/30/2019 |
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO |
GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LAKE ONTARIO HOMEOWNER RECOVERY PROGRAM
Governor Has Allocated Up To $20 Million to Assist Homeowners Impacted by Record Breaking Flooding in 2019 Through the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Flood Relief and Recovery Program
Homeowner Application Process Will Begin on October 1
Complements Governor's Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative to Strengthen Lake Ontario Waterfront Infrastructure and Enhance Regional Economies
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced eligibility requirements for the 2019 Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Flood Relief and Recovery Program that will assist homeowners directly impacted by this year's record breaking Lake Ontario flooding. First announced by Governor Cuomo on August 7, 2019, the program will allocate up to $20 million to expand the home repair program assist homeowners affected by the flooding. The program, which is administered through New York State Homes and Community Renewal, will provide residents in the impacted eight-county region up to $50,000 in state funding to help offset damages to their primary residences. The homeowner application period will begin October 1 and will close October 31, 2019.
"Hundreds of homeowners and businesses experienced significant damage to their properties during this year's record breaking flooding on Lake Ontario," Governor Cuomo said. "As we continue to invest in strengthening infrastructure along the shoreline for the long term, we are also helping homeowners in the near term get the resources they need to make necessary repairs to their homes. This critical funding will help those homeowners devastated by flooding build back stronger than before."
"Having seen the destruction firsthand during visits to impacted communities, I know how devastating Lake Ontario flooding has been for local residents," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "With this funding, homeowners will be eligible to receive support from New York State to help build back better and stronger. Through our flood preparations, the REDI commission, and targeted investments, we are ready to assist and are committed to strengthening infrastructure along the Lake Ontario shoreline."
The 2019 Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Flood Relief and Recovery Program complements the Governor's Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative, or REDI, through which the State is investing up to $300 million in projects identified by communities in partnership with a multi-agency State commission that will strengthen infrastructure along Lake Ontario's shoreline while bolstering the region's local economies in partnership with a commission of state agency leaders.
Applicants are eligible to receive funding for costs not covered by other sources, such as insurance, and include primary homeowners who reside in the eight counties associated with REDI - Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Wayne - and meet the below criteria:
· Homeowners who were impacted by flooding Jan. 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019 are entitled to apply for funding.
· Applications received between October 1, 2019 and October 31, 2019.
· Priority will be given to applications that address damage incurred to primary residences which sustained direct physical flood-related damage that threatens the safety of the home.
· The Lake Ontario recovery initiative is focused on the resiliency of the shoreline as a whole, and applications that address stand-alone shoreline damage that threatens the safety of a primary residence will be reviewed after funding decisions have been made for projects proposed through the REDI process. In some cases, these regionally significant projects may provide protections for individual homes.
To sign up for updates and be notified when the application is available, visit HCR's website.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "The ability for residents to recover in the aftermath of a major flood is never easy and the cost to rebuild often makes a difficult situation even worse. Thanks to Governor Cuomo's leadership, the State is lending a helping hand to homeowners by reducing the financial burden that may be holding back their restoration efforts. HCR stands ready to lend its full support to these families as they work to repair their homes in the wake of this unprecedented flooding."
Empire State Development Chairman and Co-Chair of the REDI Commission Howard Zemsky said, "Ensuring that residents throughout the affected regions can bounce back and rebuild their lives in the wake of the severe and historic flooding along the Lake Ontario Shoreline is a top priority of the REDI Commission. We will continue working to target specific needs and projects prioritized by local stakeholders, helping these communities to both recover and to become more resilient."
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "Before, during, and after historic flooding hit Lake Ontario's shoreline communities this year, Governor Cuomo has been on the ground, providing hands-on leadership to protect and support communities impacted by high water levels. The Governor's commitment to help shoreline residents recover and rebuild has been unprecedented and unwavering. The funding announced today will help shoreline property owners become more resilient while providing these homeowners with the relief they desperately need."