Extreme Weather Relief Bill for NY Farmers

By Blake Jackson

In response to extreme weather events that hit Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, State Sen. Joseph Griffo and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon have introduced a new bill to help affected communities, especially farmers, small businesses, and homeowners. This legislation, known as S.7761/A.8780, aims to provide relief and build resilience in areas devastated by storms in 2024 and early 2025.

Farmers and rural families were among the hardest hit by the high-end EF2 tornado that struck Rome in July 2024 and the severe winter storms from January to February 2025. The storms caused damage ranging from roof collapses to blizzard-like conditions, affecting homes, barns, and businesses.

The proposed bill would establish the Central New York Extreme Weather Relief and Resiliency Grant Program. This program would offer grants to small farms, multiple dwelling owners, homeowner associations, and non-profits for repairing direct physical damages.

It also aims to strengthen current state programs by expanding the Resilient and Ready Storm Damage Recovery and Resilient Retrofit programs. These updates would help provide emergency home repair assistance or reimbursements to homeowners impacted by recent or future storms.

Another key feature is the creation of the Central New York property/casualty insurance resiliency incentive program, which would encourage insurers to offer free or discounted loss mitigation tools and services.

Sen. Griffo and Assemblywoman Buttenschon have also asked the governor to increase funds for the Extreme Winter Recovery program and assist local governments with state resources and equipment. They stress the need for stronger insurance support and faster claims assistance, especially for rural and farm communities.

This legislation offers a proactive path to recovery and preparation, ensuring that when disaster strikes, communities are not left behind.

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