For the last month, Assemblyman Brian Miller (R,I – New Hartford) has worked tirelessly with state and local elected officials as well as with members of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, to bring attention to and obtain emergency state aide for flood recovery efforts following the early July storms that affected many in Oneida County. Miller was on hand for Gov. Cuomo’s recent announcement that the state will add $2.5 million to Oneida County’s investment in flood mitigation efforts as well as provide an additional $250,000, much of which will go toward training efforts for first responders.

“It seems the towns that the Sauquoit Creek runs through are flooded nearly every year,” said Miller. “Year after year, people are suffering significant damage to their homes and businesses, or losing them altogether. People’s lives are in danger and something must be done. That is why my colleagues and I have been in contact with the DEC since the flooding occurred and why we called on the governor to allocate state funding to help in flood recovery and mitigation. I am very pleased that the governor has committed $2.75 million to our efforts, but there is a great deal to do to protect our community from being ravaged by annual flooding and that funding is just the start of what we will need.”

The current plan is to widen and deepen a one-mile stretch of Sauquoit Creek so that it can hold excess water during large storms. Water infrastructure may also need upgrading to better help drainage during heavy storms.