BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

President Joe Biden has approved a Major Disaster Declaration that will provide federal assistance to communities impacted by tropical storm Debby August 8-10.

With the declaration in place, federal financial assistance can be secured to support public infrastructure reconstruction efforts in St. Lawrence County, state officials said.

The funds would come through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program, providing funding to local governments 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.

St. Lawrence County Superintendent of Highways Don Chambers said the county has been continually documenting damages to county infrastructure, with the documentation expected to be used as part of the county's submission to the state for aid.

St. Lawrence County was hit particularly hard by the storm on Aug. 9 and 10, with record amounts of rainfall in many municipalities.

According to the NWS, some areas throughout the county saw in excess of seven inches of total rainfall, including areas near Colton, South Colton and Fowler.

"One aspect of this event was the impressive rainfall rates observed in the core of the heaviest precipitation swath. Within this band, precipitable water (PWAT) values, or the amount of water held in the atmospheric water column, ranged from 2.1 to 2.4 inches. These values approached record levels for the date as interpreted by the NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center's Atmospheric Sounding Archive, using Albany, NY as a closest proxy," the NWS said in the report.

On average, rainfall throughout the county was over 2" per hour at the peak of the storm, according to the NWS.

According to the report, a 50 to 70 mile swatch of excessive rainfall struck the county and northwestern Franklin County, leading to a much higher average rainfall total that peaked at 7.35" in North Lawrence.

North Emeryville was also hit hard, with 7.1" of total rainfall.

Norwood saw 6.6" in total rainfall, with Hermon not far behind with 6.49"

Potsdam was struck with 4.91" total, while Canton saw 3.86", according to the NWS.

Massena saw 4.25" of rainfall, while Gouverneur saw 3.92" total.

That excess rainfall had a significant impact on infrastructure like highways throughout St. Lawrence County, causing damage that will cost millions of dollars to repair.

St. Lawrence County 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.

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.

That help is now on the way from the federal government with the latest announcement from the President's office.

“The effects of Tropical Storm Debby caused extreme damage across parts of New York last month, and I'm thankful President Biden has approved my request for a Major Disaster Declaration,” Governor Kathy Hochul said.

“My administration will continue to work with FEMA to ensure those affected receive the critical funding they need to begin the recovery and rebuilding process.”