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Congressman Chris Gibson Pushes FEMA For Overdue Storm Relief In Schoharie County

WAMC photo by Dave Lucas

It has been over 40 months since tropical storm Irene flooded the Schoharie County Public Safety Building and the jail; both are still in need of repair. Upstate New York Congressman Chris Gibson led a gathering of state and local leaders Tuesday in Schoharie County, with the intent to spark FEMA to make a decision. 

Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond was joined by other officials in saying that it has been more than three and a half years since Irene ravaged the county, flooding out the public safety building, which houses an 89-bed jail, emergency medical services, sheriff's headquarters and the county communications center.

"On August 28, 2011, we were flooded out to the whole Schoharie Valley. Right here in this building where you stand now there was 8 fee 9 inches of water. Since that day, we have not been able to get back to where we belong to operate the sheriff's office and the correctional facility the way they should be operated," said Desmond.

FEMA has yet to make a final decision on how to fund restoration of the public safety building. Expenses have been mounting because the county has had to transport inmates to and from Albany County, which involves deputies sometimes making multiple trips per day.   State Senator Jim Seward:   "FEMA and the federal government have failed to come through with the necessary support and decision making that's needed to help Schoharie County fully recover from the impact of Hurricane Irene. This breakdown, in my mind, perpetuates  that widely held notion that government red tape and inaction holds back progress."

Officials say New York State actually forbids rehabbing the existing building, which sits in a flood plain. Congressman Chris Gibson noted that it would cost over $40 million to refurbish the standing structure, as opposed to $37 million to build a new state-of-the-art public service building on higher ground.  FEMA is said to be leaning toward refurbishing...  "That makes absolutely no sense, that we would spend more money to take on more risk."

Gibson cited "climate change" as the reason to relocate rather than rebuild. He added that he is extremely grateful FEMA has dispersed $44 million throughout the county, but it's time to get the county building issue settled.    "We're calling on the Obama administration to make the decision. This has been going on way too long, this way overdue for all constituents who want to weigh in on this and support what we're doing here today, they can call the White House. 202-456-1414, and join us in bringing this to light to the administration once again, and putting pressure on them to get a final decision on this matter."

Schoharie Town Supervisor Gene Millone says it's not only a question of the Public Safety building being replaced:    "It's important for you to know that we lost our fire station in the village of Schoharie, as a result of the flooding event.  There's been an ongoing effort with FEMA to have that facility replaced. Our equipment is scattered about, response time is affected, and yet there is no answer from FEMA."

Millone went on to blast FEMA:  "It's unconscionable that almost four years later there's been no response to major issues plaguing many of our towns and villages throughout this county."

Gibson believes the press conference he called forced the Fed's hand.   FEMA spokesman Don Caetano:  "We continue to work with the State of New York to find alternatives or options to address the situation that the Congressman brought up. We are in dialog with the state and we look forward to finding a resolution one way or another to help with this situation."

FEMA officials are expected to be in Schoharie to meet with local officials next week.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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