“Our residents have been through enough since the disastrous flooding in July that ensued after the Sauquoit Creek overflowed its banks, yet again. Many have lost their homes, their businesses, their livelihoods. My fellow legislators and I have been working diligently in conjunction with the governor’s office and the state DEC since the events of early July to provide state aid to make our residents whole and prevent this from happening again. We had been working to secure federal aid through FEMA relief, but we have been recently informed that the federal government does not deem the damage here as severe enough to receive supplemental federal assistance.

“I will be doing everything in my power to get as much assistance as possible for our community, including working with my colleagues to appeal FEMA’s decision. In the meantime, I would ask FEMA representatives to come to our community and speak directly with those who lost their livelihoods to explain – in person – why the damage here is not severe enough.”