BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- Governor Kathy Hochul is seeking a new Major Disaster Declaration to secure federal funding for St. Lawrence County to assist with recovery efforts following extensive flooding from Tropical Storm Debby on Aug. 9.

The news comes just over a week after Hochul announced a Major Disaster Declaration for the North Country following an initial round of flooding July 10 and 11.  

Though St. Lawrence County was affected by the July flooding, many state and local lawmakers continued to urge Hochul to seek a MDD for flooding that occurred in August as well.

“We must provide relief to areas impacted by the storm, and my administration will take every measure necessary to ensure their speedy and full recovery," Hochul said at a recent press conference.

A MDD secures federal financial assistance through FEMA's Public Assistance Program, which provides funding to local governments and non-profits for disaster relief efforts.

Funds can be used for debris removal, repairs to buildings and infrastructure, as well as emergency protective measures, according to FEMA.

County officials have been vocal for weeks following the Aug. 9 flooding that caused millions of dollars in damage to highways and other municipal infrastructure throughout the region.

Legislators passed a resolution during the Aug. 26 Finance Committee meeting, authorizing $650,000 for emergency road and structure repairs to reopen all affected roads.

County Highway Superintendent Don Chambers said the work to repair many roads and structural projects like culvert replacement are still underway, with crews having begun the work just hours after the storm subsided Aug. 9.

“It’s going to likely be into the several million dollars to complete repairs even though we have, for example, some bridges that have already been replaced or had extensive repairs,” he said.

Chambers said the $650,000 the resolution approved spending is just for emergency repairs to ensure “roads are safe to the traveling public.”

He said some structures, like culverts, would require improvements to a standard set by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) following an assessment after the storm.

Chambers said larger culverts and significant road repairs were needed around the county but said it was his hope the state and federal government would help financially.

“Hopefully what we’ll see is some help from the state and federal government to address these final needs, but I just wanted to be clear this is for getting the emergency repairs done,” he said.

Chambers said the county and other area counties like Lewis County suffered enough damage to meet the threshold for the state to apply for emergency aid through FEMA.

Despite that, Chambers said he was unsure if the county would be made whole for all repairs or just the emergency repairs through FEMA.