BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County has been approved for federal disaster relief following extensive flooding and storms that struck the north country July 10 and 11.  

The news broke yesterday, Aug. 29, as President Joe Biden signed off on the Major Disaster Declaration to provide federal assistance to the affected communities.

Governor Kathy Hochul also announced the support, saying the federal financial assistance would support public infrastructure reconstruction efforts throughout multiple counties, including St. Lawrence County.

"The effects of Hurricane Beryl caused extreme damage across Upstate New York this month, and I'm thankful President Biden has approved my request for a Major Disaster Declaration," Governor Hochul said.

"My administration will work directly with FEMA in the coming weeks to ensure our local government partners receive the critical funding they need to begin the recovery and rebuilding process."

A Major Disaster Declaration secures financial assistance from the federal government, primarily through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program, to provide funding to local governments, tribes and eligible non-profits for debris removal, protective measures and repairs to buildings and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment facilities, critical infrastructure sites, schools, parks and other facilities.

As part of the declaration, New York was also granted access to FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs. Following a Presidential disaster declaration, FEMA provides funding for states to administer grant programs supporting local hazard mitigation planning and long-term hazard mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and to improve property damaged by natural disasters. Local governments and certain non-profits that perform government-like functions are eligible to apply for these grants. All counties in the State will have the ability to apply for this funding. More information will become available in the coming months.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also addressed the round of funding that will be utilized to rebuild the north county.

"The historic rainfall and severe storms that battered communities in the North Country and across Upstate New York on July 10 resulted in flooding that caused millions in widespread damage to our public infrastructure. This Major Disaster Declaration will unlock critical federal resources for Lewis, St. Lawrence, Cortland, Essex, and Hamilton Counties to start on the road to recovery from these devastating storms. I sincerely thank President Biden for heeding my calls to deliver federal support to communities across New York impacted by this historic flooding, and I will continue to fight to deliver the federal assistance Upstate New York communities need to rebuild and recover," Schumer said.

The news of the federal aid comes as welcome relief to the county, not long after County Highway Superintendent Don Chambers informed legislators that repairs for bridges, highways and other infrastructure would cost in the millions of dollars.

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.