Funding Announced for Christmas Blizzard Damage to Homes, Businesses, and Farms
The owners of properties in western and northern New York, severely affected by the historic Christmas blizzard, now have the opportunity to apply for federal aid, as announced by Congresswoman Claudia L. Tenney, R-Canandiagua recently.
The blizzard, which occurred between December 21 and 26 of the previous year, significantly impacted Western New York and the North Country. It unleashed feet of snow across the state, leading to protracted blizzard conditions, and unfortunately claimed the lives of nearly 70 people in Buffalo and Western New York alone. Across the United States and Canada, the death toll rose to 106 due to the extreme weather event.
The blizzard, sometimes unofficially referred to as “Winter Storm Elliott,” had a particularly profound effect on Genesee and Orleans counties, but also significantly impacted Wyoming County. The storm induced whiteouts and snow drifts and led to the abandonment of vehicles on impassable highways. Hundreds of people had to seek temporary refuge in nearby businesses or rapidly arranged emergency shelters due to the devastating weather conditions. Many have since referred to the event as a “once in a generation” storm.
In response to this extreme weather event, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) have made grant funding available to homeowners, farmers, and small business owners whose properties were damaged by the potent snow and wind.
The USDA has established a grant program focused on homeowners who need to perform repairs on their storm-damaged homes. To be eligible for this grant, the home must be located in Genesee, Wyoming, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Oneida, or Chautauqua counties. The grant can provide up to $40,675 in assistance.
On the other hand, the SBA has set up another grant program for families, businesses, and farms that sustained uninsured losses as a result of the blizzard. The eligible counties for this grant are Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Wyoming, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua. This program has already dispensed more than $5.8 million in loans to nearly 200 businesses and residents in western New York.
It should be noted that to apply for these grants, the applicant must have owned the home, building, or business when the storm struck.
Congresswoman Tenney has expressed her concern about the devastation caused by the winter storm. “Winter Storm Elliot devastated western New York, causing severe damage to family homes, farms, and small businesses in addition to taking the lives of nearly 70 of our neighbors,” Tenney said. “These federal loans and grant programs will assist our community as we rebuild from this severe storm.”
