N.Y. Gov. Reports Ulster County to Receive $580,000 in Flood Relief Effort

New York Gov. George Pataki announced $580,000 in funding to help 22 families replace their homes, which were damaged this past spring by the worst flooding to occur in Ulster County in 50 years.

The Governor’s Office for Small Cities (GOSC) provided the funds through its Community Development Program.

Annually, a portion of the Community Development Program funding is allocated for imminent threat or contingency situations affecting public health, welfare and/or safety that require immediate resolution. To qualify, an impacted municipality must be declared a federal or state disaster area.

In April, Ulster County was hit with its largest flood in 50 years. Of the 369 residences identified with damage to living space, 135 were completely destroyed. Rental stipends made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are scheduled to run out the end of 2005. The funds administered by the Governor’s Office for Small Cities will provide assistance to the 22 households that have been identified by the Red Cross as seeking continued housing assistance.

Ulster County, which received a federal disaster area declaration, will use the $580,000 GOSC grant in conjunction with $130,000 in local funding to assist in the relocation of up to 22 households displaced by the spring 2005 floods.

The funding will assist with the purchase of new manufactured homes and items such as concrete pads, stairs and skirting necessary for location of the new units in a newly expanded mobile home park. Average subsidy per unit will be $28,000.