The Fishkill Creek rushing through Beacon. The creek rose very high and caused damage throughout Beacon and Fishkill. Photo Credit: Screenshot from Michael Post’s video. — The Fishkill Creek rushing through Beacon. The creek rose very high and caused damage throughout Beacon and Fishkill.
*Photo Credit: Screenshot from* *Michael Post’s video*.

On Friday afternoon via press release, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro encouraged local residents, businesses and municipalities that sustained damage from the remnants of Hurricane Ida to document their loss and reconstruction. His office said that Dutchess County is currently working with the New York State Office of Emergency Management as the preliminary damage assessment process begins.

Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for 14 counties in Downstate New York on September 2, 2021, which includes Dutchess County and was approved by President Biden on September 3, 2021. This provides up to $5 Million in immediate federal funding to support response operations ahead of Completion of FEMA Damage Assessments, according to Governor Hochul’s press release.

Also included in her report was and update that DEC Staff continue to monitor for potential damage to wastewater infrastructure, respond to reports of petroleum spills and survey integrity of dams and levees.

As of Governor Hochul’s press release on September 3, 2021, road closures persist on U.S. Route 9, State Route 100, and the Saw Mill River Parkway in Westchester County.

Service on Metro-North's Hudson Line and New Canaan and Danbury Branches Remain suspended.

While compensation is not guaranteed, according to the press release issued by the County Executive's office on Friday (9/3/2021), if the County’s and New York State’s public damage assessment threshold is met, then Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) individual Assistance, financial assistance and direct services to eligible uninsured and underinsured individuals and households can be considered.

As part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Aid process, the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response is currently communicating with chief elected officials from each municipality, in an effort to gather cost estimates on public property and infrastructure damages.

The Dutchess County Executive’s Office stated that they reached out to local mayors and supervisors in different communities to ask for contact information for local businesses affected by the storm to assist in connecting them with FEMA in the event the federal government approved disaster assistance for small businesses.

In Beacon, the comparable city leaders would be Beacon's Mayor Lee Kyriacou (mayor@beaconny.gov 845-838-5011) and the City Administrator is Chris White (845-838-5009 cwhite@beaconny.gov)

How To Begin To Prepare To Qualify

The County Executive recommends residents, businesses and municipalities that experienced a loss as a result of Ida take the following steps to document their damage:

Take photos of their loss or damage
Assemble a list of damaged or lost items
Collect receipts for materials they purchased to repair damage caused by Ida

County Executive Molinaro said, “Though Ida has passed Dutchess County, her impact will be felt for weeks or, in some cases, even longer as some residents, businesses and municipalities in our community look to rebuild following this damaging storm. I urge those affected to take steps to document the storm’s impact. Such evidence will bolster their application for reimbursement from New York State, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other possible sources.”

The press release stated that The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce is also contacting its membership, and the County Executive’s Office is coordinating outreach through other business associations to identify businesses affected by Ida.