ALBANY (AP) -- The Cuomo administration reports distributing more than $574 million in state aid to help communities recover from flooding since back-to-back tropical storms Irene and Lee dropped torrents of rain last year.
Their report Thursday also notes an estimated $1.5 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency costs, with 38 of New York's 62 counties affected, and 33,000 people registering for individual federal assistance.
Administration officials say the seven hardest hit counties were Broome, Delaware, Essex, Greene, Orange, Schoharie and Tioga, which shared $137 million in direct aid to individuals, businesses, farms and localities. They say 774 farms and 741 businesses got direct aid.
Howard Glaser, director of state operations, says 18,000 people were housed in 198 emergency shelters. More than 400 roads and bridges were closed. Most reopened in 10 days.
Money was also used in the New York Works project to fix the state's deteriorating dam system. Cash was awarded to several counties including Oswego, Chenango, Cortland and St.Lawrence in Central New York.
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