By New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo, R-C-Rome, 53rd District
The Central New York and Mohawk Valley regions have struggled with severe weather over the past several years.
On July 16, 2024, a high-end EF2 tornado struck Rome, causing significant damage across the city, as well as in Canastota.
From approximately Jan. 6 through Feb. 25, 2025, extreme winter weather ranging from high winds to non-stop snow with blizzard like conditions tore through these regions, causing roof collapses, ice dams and damage to structures.
I have introduced legislation that would assist and support the communities hit hard by extreme weather events in 2024 and early 2025 and would ensure that municipalities are prepared for severe weather that may strike in the future.
My bill (S.7761), which is in committee, would:
- Establish the Central New York Extreme Weather Relief and Resiliency Grant Program that would provide grants for small businesses, farms, owners of multiple dwellings, homeowners associations and not-for-profit organizations that sustained direct physical damage under one of the covered extreme weather events which they can apply for to cover repairs.
- Expand and strengthen the state’s Resilient and Ready Storm Damage Recovery and Resilient Retrofit programs to offer additional emergency home repair assistance and/or reimbursement to impacted homeowners recent extreme weather events in the region and those that may occur in the future.
- Create the Central New York property/casualty insurance resiliency incentive program to facilitate property/casualty insurance discounts for mitigation efforts. As a result of this program, property/casualty insurers in New York would be encouraged to offer loss mitigation tools and services to policyholders for free or reduced cost.
A companion bill (A.8780) has been introduced by Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, D-Marcy.
This legislation is part of my ongoing efforts to help residents in the region affected by extreme weather. Earlier this year, I joined with other area state lawmakers to urge the governor to consider:
- Increasing the allocation for the Extreme Winter Recovery program and designating the communities affected by this substantial weather event as eligible for this additional funding to help repair damaged highways and bridges.
- The further sharing and providing of additional services and equipment from state agencies due to the excessive amount of snow and ice that has created significant public safety hazards for pedestrians and motorists.
- Increasing the availability of the Department of Financial Services to assist residents with expediting insurance claims and expanding access to additional financial support from the state similar to what was done following devastating flooding in the region.
We are hopeful that the governor will take the necessary action to help alleviate the burden felt by so many during this most recent significant weather event.
New Yorkers need to know that when disaster hits, the state will deliver the needed resources that will help them rebuild, recover and overcome.
