By Patricia Breakey
Nearly $200,000 in federal disaster aid is on its way to two local counties that suffered damages during the December ice storm, but area officials say it's just a fraction of what is expected.
Judith Warner and Rich Bell, emergency services directors for Schoharie and Delaware counties, respectively, each said applications are still being completed.
Bell said that after the ice storm, the area was declared eligible for emergency protective status, which qualified for assistance for debris cleanup.
Bell said letters of appeal were submitted protesting the limited assistance.
On March 4, President Barack Obama signed a major disaster declaration for New York, triggering the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance program in the nine designated counties.
The federal funds, which total more than $878,000, cover emergency protective measures, such as debris removal, police and fire overtime and permanent work to repair damaged infrastructure.
Warner said when she saw the totals listed for Schoharie County, she immediately e-mailed the State Emergency Management Office to ask how the amounts were computed.
"We are anticipating receiving at least three times more than the $82,000 listed in the release," Warner said.
Bell said the upgrade from emergency protective to a full-scale federal disaster allowed towns, villages, counties, schools and fire departments to apply for assistance with storm damage and protective measures such as sanding roads during the storm.
Bell said the first application deadline for the FEMA funding is still several days away, and many municipalities have not begun to write project descriptions.
Bell said he cannot project the final totals for Delaware County but anticipates it will be far more than the $110,340.53 total released Wednesday.
Warner and Bell both said they thought the totals released represent applications approved under the emergency protective status.
The preliminary amounts listed in the first round of funding announced include:
Delaware County: Harpersfield, $15,774.41; Meredith, $50,239.11; Roxbury, $23,411.89; village of Stamford, $8,520.82; town of Stamford, $10,056.90; Delaware County, $2,337.40.
Schoharie County: Sharon Springs Central School, $1,718.75; Esperance Fire Department, $4,611.76; Jefferson Fire Department, $3,072.08; Schoharie County, $71,057.28; Gallupville Fire Department, $2,013.08.
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Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
