Memorial Day Holiday business is being washed away for communities along Lake Ontario thanks to record-high water levels. Normally, places like Youngstown, Wilson and Olcott would be packed with visitors anxious to use their boats. This year, those areas have very little traffic and the impact is hurting businesses.
"I think I saw twenty people for the weekend. I am supposed to see twenty people per hour," said Wes Walker, owner of the Slippery Sinker, a fishing supply store in Olcott.
RCR Yachts in Youngstown said it only has 50% of its boats in the water because most docks are underwater.
At Willow Beach RV Park in Youngstown, the owner said he has lost use of his prime lakeside campsites because they were flooded. Some people have pulled their trailers out but the areas are still too wet to use. The owner said he is also spending about $100/day to run a NYS-supplied diesel pump.
Members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were out touring affected areas hoping to gather information and offer advice. One of the big problems it found was sand bagging not being done properly - because the bags were too full allowing gaps to form.
The following link was provided to help people better understand how to sand bag:
http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Lake-Ontario-High-Water/
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it could take until Fall for the water levels to get back to normal.
That is not what shoreline businesses want to hear who fear losing both the Memorial Day and 4th of July Holidays could force some small operations to close down permanently.
New York State is now trying to help and issued this press release:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced up to $5 million in grants available for small businesses that have experienced physical damage or loss as a result of the flooding in communities along Lake Ontario. The program provides up to $20,000 to small businesses to support the repair or replacement of damaged or destroyed real property and other tangible assets, including equipment, furniture, fixtures, supplies and inventory. Funding will be provided through Empire State Development and applications will be made available in June. Governor Cuomo also announced that DEC permitting offices and the state’s Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers will offer weekend hours throughout the summer to assist residents and businesses.
“We are doing everything in our power to help New Yorkers impacted by flooding,” Governor Cuomo said. “Small businesses are the backbone of communities across the state, and these grants will help businesses and residents rebuild and get back to their everyday lives. By offering weekend hours at our Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers and DEC permitting offices, we are also making it easy for impacted communities to access information and resources at their convenience.”
The grant program is open to eligible applicants in the counties identified in the Governor’s state of emergency declaration announced on May 2: Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wayne counties. Grants will be provided for flood-related costs that have not or will not be compensated by any other federal, state or local recovery program or any third-party payers.
Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo announced $10 million in state funding will be available to assist eligible local municipalities that have been impacted by the recent flooding.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said, “During my visits to the affected Lake Ontario communities over the past few weeks, I have seen the devastation to property as well as to the livelihoods of countless small businesses. This $5 million in small business grants will hopefully bring much needed relief to alleviate the damages and assist in recovering their losses. I was also proud to announce the $10 million Governor Cuomo provided to assist municipalities with infrastructure repairs. We are committed to continuing our ongoing support to the affected communities.”
State Offering Weekend Hours at Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers and DEC Permitting Offices Throughout the Summer
To continue the state’s efforts in helping residents and businesses recover from flooding and damage, the NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Centers and DEC permitting offices will offer weekend hours throughout the summer, starting Memorial Day weekend. In addition, those who are not able to visit the Emergency Response Mobile Command Center can call the Lake Ontario Flood Assistance Hotline at 1-866-244-3839, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. for help with insurance-related issues, assistance with flood mitigation measures such as sandbags, and for technical guidance regarding on-site repairs to their property.
Wednesday, May 24
Monroe – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Parma, Town Hall
1300 Hilton Parma Road
Parma, NY
Jefferson County – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Lyme
Chaumont Volunteer Fire Department
11385 NY Route 12E
Thursday, May 25
Wayne – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Village of Sodus Point
Sodus Point Beach Park
7958 Wickham Blvd
St. Lawrence - NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
City of Ogdensburg
100 Riverside Avenue (The Dobinsky Center)
Friday, May 26
Niagara- NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Newfane
Olcott Fire Company 169
1 Lockport-Olcott Road
Cayuga - NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Village of Fair Haven
Fair Haven Village Hall
14523 Cayuga Street
Saturday, May 27
Orleans – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Kent
County Marine Park
Point Breeze Road (Route 98)
Oswego – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Mexico
New York State DOT Maintenance Center
5846 Scenic Avenue
Sunday, May 28
Monroe – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Parma, Town Hall
1300 Hilton Parma Rd
Parma, NY
Jefferson County - NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Town of Lyme
Chaumont Volunteer Fire Department
11385 NY Route 12E
Monday, May 29
Wayne – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Village of Sodus Point
Sodus Point Beach Park
7958 Wickham Blvd
St. Lawrence – NYS Emergency Response Mobile Command Center
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
City of Ogdensburg
100 Riverside Avenue (The Dobinsky Center)
As part of the Lake Ontario Rapid Response Team, DEC staff will be available at the Mobile Command Centers to help answer questions in addition to deploying a team of experienced coastal engineers to Lake Ontario to meet with property owners, conduct site visits and offer technical assistance. DEC’s engineers stand ready to work with property owners so that protective structures can be repaired and homeowners can take appropriate actions expeditiously. To date, DEC has issued 286 permits.
If you are unable to visit a mobile location, the DEC will continue to provide support to communities through expedited permitting, site inspections, and technical guidance at regional offices. To date, more than 1,100 individuals have sought help from the Mobile Command Centers.
DEC Regional Permit Office Contacts and Hours
NYS DEC Region 6
(Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties)
Regional Permit Administrator
Dulles State Office Building
317 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601-3787
Phone: 315-785-2245
Fax: 315-785-2242
Email: dep.r6@dec.ny.gov
Open Daily: 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM
NYS DEC Region 7
(Cayuga and Oswego counties)
Regional Permit Administrator
615 Erie Blvd. West, Room 206
Syracuse, NY 13204-2400
Phone: 315-426-7444
Fax: 315-426-7425
Email: dep.r7@dec.ny.gov
Open Daily: 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM
NYS DEC Region 8
(Monroe, Orleans and Wayne counties)
Regional Permit Administrator
6274 East Avon – Lima Road
Avon, NY 14414-9519
Phone: 585-226-5400
Fax: 585-226-2830
Email: dep.r8@dec.ny.gov
Open Daily: 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM
NYS DEC Region 9
(Niagara County)
Regional Permit Administrator
270 Michigan Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14203-2915
Phone: 716-851-7165
Fax: 716-851-7168
Email: dep.r9@dec.ny.gov
Open Daily: 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM
Regional Resource Deployment
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management continues to coordinate with county and local partners in monitoring the water levels of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Additional resources from other state stockpiles have been shifted to locations in Monroe County in the event that conditions worsen. To date, more than 1.3 million sandbags and 11 sandbaggers – at least one for each County, along with 62 pumps of various sizes with associated hoses, have been deployed to affected communities to help mitigate flooding to impacted counties. Currently, Lake Ontario is 31 inches above its level of one year ago and while these levels are not anticipated to increase in the near future, forecasters expect that it will take many weeks for water levels to normalize.
St. Lawrence County
· 40,000 sandbags distributed (20,000 from Army Corps of Engineers)
· 1 sandbagger deployed
· State sandbagging operation at 2317 Green Street Ogdensburg
Jefferson County
· 170,000 sandbags (50,000 from Army Corps of Engineers)
· 2 sandbaggers deployed
· 20 National Guard members deployed
· State sandbagging operations at Routes 8 and 12E in Chaumont
· An inmate crew at the Cape Vincent Correctional Facility are filling sandbags on-site for the Town of Lyme and Cape Vincent.
Oswego County
· 139,000 sandbags distributed
· 1 sandbagger deployed
· 20 National Guard Members deployed
· State sandbagging operation at State Route 104 in Mapleview
Cayuga County
· 85,000 sandbags distributed
· 1 sandbagger
· 20 National Guard Members deployed
· Local sandbagging operation at 14523 Cayuga Street in Fair Haven
Wayne County
· 285,000 sandbags distributed
· 2 sandbaggers deployed
· 50 National Guard Members deployed
· State sandbagging operation at 7290 Ridge Road in Sodus
· Local sandbagging operation at 7452 Seaman Street in Sodus Point
· 2 hoses and pumps
2 – 6” pumps
Monroe County
· 402,000 distributed (30,000 from the Army Corps of Engineers)
· 2 sandbaggers deployed
· 30 National Guard members deployed
· State sandbagging operation at 198 East Manitou Road in Hilton
· Local sandbagging operation at 1 Long Pond Road in Rochester
· 24 pumps
12 – 4” pumps
2 – 6” pumps
10 – 3” pumps
Orleans County
· 130,000 sandbags distributed
· 1 sandbagger deployed
· 30 National Guard members deployed
· State sandbagging operation at 14410 Route 31 in Albion
· 3 Department of Corrections and Community Supervision inmate crews
2 in the Town of Kendell
1 in the Town of Carlton
Niagara County
· 60,000 sandbags distributed
· 1 sandbagger deployed
· 20 National Guard members
· Local sandbagging operations at 1691 Lockport Road in Olcott
· 14 pumps and various hoses
12 – 3” pumps
2 – 6” pumps
All New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for NY-Alert, the state’s free, all hazards subscription-based alerting system. For more information and to register, please visit www.nyalert.gov. For information on flood safety visit the DHSES website at www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/safety-info/flood. For more information on the Storm Recovery Permit, visit the DEC website. Details of the general permit and instructions for applicants can be found at: www.dec.ny.gov/permits/89343.html.
