Governor Kathy Hochul has directed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue an emergency declaration, enabling swift recovery efforts in 18 counties hit by severe storms and flash flooding on August 9 and 10.
The emergency declaration allows the DEC to fast-track permit reviews for critical infrastructure repairs, including work on waterways and restoring waterway channel capacity. Counties covered by the declaration include several in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions, such as Ontario, Schuyler, and Yates.
Governor Hochul emphasized the urgency of the response, stating, “My administration is working around the clock to provide resources and assistance to communities in need, ensuring a full recovery.”
The emergency declaration simplifies the permit process, allowing communities to rebuild more quickly by utilizing the Statewide General Permit for stream activities in impacted areas.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].