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By Mike Murphy
In the aftermath of the severe rainstorm on July 9 and subsequent flooding in parts of Canandaigua and elsewhere in Ontario County, the word continues to be “cleanup,” although it appears the bulk of the work is nearing completion.
During the cleanup and demolition phase of the flood, Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization, has been volunteering to assist homeowners.
According to City Manager John Goodwin, the team will continue to assist until Friday, July 28.
Throughout the areas closest to Sucker Brook, only verdant grass is visible on the streets, reminders that these neighborhoods were recently inundated with six inches of rain over a mere three hours. Left behind are tangible reminders of the downpour: sandbags placed near homes, crumpled leaves, and dirt caked on pathways. Household items that had been muddied by water having long since been removed.
Goodwin said the city will stop picking up flood debris from curbsides on July 28 because items appear not to have been damaged.
We’ve cleaned up most of the flood damage, said Goodwin, although some residents still have mud in their basements.
Team Rubicon can also help in that situation.
To aid in disaster recovery, Team Rubicon deploys “Greyshirts,” a group of veterans, first responders, and civilian volunteers.
DeBolt said Team Rubicon’s work is free for homeowners as well as for the city and county.
Residents here primarily need assistance with water damage, including mud removal, wet flooring, appliances, etc.
Furthermore, the volunteers will remove and haul wet drywall and insulation to the curb so that the house can be rebuilt.
Over the weekend, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, declared a federal disaster has been declared in communities affected by the severe flash flooding, including Ontario County. This initial declaration will provide state and local municipalities with necessary federal support to aid the recovery process for public infrastructure damage in the aforementioned counties. According to Schumer, Clinton, Dutchess, Essex, Hamilton, Orange, Putnam and Rockland will also be eligible for critical funds to assist reconstruction operations.
“Our state needed this funding, and this is a critical step on the long road to recovery,” Schumer said in a statement.
Representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency toured the area and assessed damage to the town of Canandaigua. As well as reimbursing public costs related to the storm, city and county officials hope to receive individual assistance to assist people affected by the flood as well.
To restore damaged infrastructure to pre-storm levels, the town will apply for FEMA funding. This will relieve local taxpayers of the expense, which Simpson estimated would cost several million dollars.
Senator Helming, R-Canandaigua, has asked Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office and the commissioner’s office at New York State Homes and Community Renewal to provide emergency repair grants to Ontario County residents affected by recent flooding as soon as possible.
Helming said in a statement, “I continue to speak with many homeowners and local officials, and I am aware of a great need. People are giving their time and money in our local communities to help their neighbors. It has been a pleasure working with the state and federal governments during this time, and I will continue to demand local resources.”
To be eligible for storm funding, homeowners with storm damage should first contact their insurance company and document any damage and repairs.
Canandaigua National Bank & Trust will match the first $10,000 raised by the community for FLACE Canandaigua Area Flooding Assistance Recovery Fund.
Community members are encouraged to make donations online or at area CNB branches. Funds will be distributed to United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, Salvation Army, and Partnership for Ontario County.
It was scheduled to close at the end of the day Friday at the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce’s Flood Information Center.
Hundreds of families were assisted with flood recovery information, resources, and practical guidance by volunteers and agencies such as the Salvation Army and United Way.
“Those nonprofits do yeoman’s work,” Goodwin said.
According to Simpson, the “Pirate Park” section of Outhouse Park in Canandaigua is closed and will remain closed for a while.
The bathhouse has been cleaned and assessed for damage.
Onanda Park’s upland trails are advised to be cautious because the ground is saturated and storms can come quickly. Kershaw, Deep Run, and Onanda beaches were closed temporarily due to flooding.
In the wake of the storm, town highway crews have been assessing roads, fixing shoulders, culverts, and drainage, among other things.
Simpson advised contacting the highway department if a problem has not been addressed.
While public infrastructure held up well, most of the flooding damage affected individual homes in the city.
Officials in Ontario County thank several nonprofit partners and the first responders and community members who helped during this flooding incident, as well as state and out-of-town volunteers.
Communities in and around Canandaigua have stepped up to help flood victims, according to DeBolt.
“True community partners and people willing to help come out of the woodwork or are just more evident after disasters like this,” Goodwin said.
“As we move forward from this historic storm, let’s take time to be grateful for our wonderful Canandaigua community. We are so fortunate to live in an amazing community with even more amazing people.” Simpson told residents.
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