July 14, 2017
Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
New York State Governor
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, New York 12224
Dear Governor Cuomo,
On behalf of the citizens of Monroe County who have been harmed by the recent high water
and wind driven waters of Lake Ontario, thank you for your time and attention paid to our
area and the actions you have taken to-date to assist our community. We appreciate the
State’s flood relief legislation, which you recently signed, combined with previous actions
taken by you which will provide relief to those who have experienced losses to their homes
and businesses. Additional relief is needed and available from the Federal Government and
could aid in this disaster relief effort.
At your last press conference, here in Monroe County, you called upon the Federal
Government to provide such relief. However, our citizens will not be able to seek any
Federal relief under the Stafford Act unless you, as Governor, first ask the President to issue
a “Major Disaster Declaration”. The relief contemplated by the Stafford Act is simply not
available to our citizens until this request is made.
The debate may still continue about the cause of the historic levels of the waters of Lake
Ontario, but there can be no question that the high waters combined with the winds have
devastated homes, businesses, and infrastructure along the south shore of the Lake creating
a major disaster area. That this is a “Major Disaster” to the home owners, business and local
governments all along the south shore is obvious to all who have toured the areas impacted
by the high waves and flooding, as you and I have done on numerous occasions.
On June 27th, I led a delegation of concerned local leaders and met with many Federal
officials about the disaster we have suffered and continue to shoulder. We met with
Congressman Collins, Senator Schumer, and others in our delegation. We had informative
meetings with representatives from the International Joint Commission, the Army Corps of
Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. All the Federal officials
recognized the plight of our south shore homeowners, businesses, and municipalities and
expressed their concern. However, everyone we talked to reminded us that any financial
Federal support was dependent on the issuance of a “Declaration of Emergency” by the
President which we know that will only be considered by the President upon a request for
such a declaration from the Governor.
110 County Office Building • 39 West Main Street • Rochester, New York 14614
(585) 753-1000 • fax: (585) 753-1014 • www.monroecounty.gov • e-mail: countyexecutive@monroecounty.gov

 As I am sure you are aware from your own survey of this area, time is of the essence for
those impacted by this disaster. Without adequate funds to repair the damage which has
already occurred as well as to shore up property to protect it from further damage, many of
our citizens will experience ongoing devastation. Therefore, I write to you, the Governor of
this great State, and ask that you send a request to President Trump to issue a “Major
Disaster Declaration” for the south shore of Lake Ontario. Only then will our citizens be able
to seek the Federal aid which is clearly needed to respond to their losses.
Respectfully yours,

Cheryl Dinolfo
Monroe County Executive
CD/kam

110 County Office Building • 39 West Main Street • Rochester, New York 14614
(585) 753-1000 • fax: (585) 753-1014 • www.monroecounty.gov • e-mail: countyexecutive@monroecounty.gov