County soil and water districts will coordinate the aid to individual farms. Almost $12,000 has been set aside for Clinton County, to replace culverts and make repairs to access roads—and Essex County will get about $45,000 for those repairs, debris removal, fence repair, and stream channel restoration.

The biggest recipients of funding are Schoharie, Orange, and Tioga Counties—all three were devastated by the recent flooding. Schoharie will receive the most aid—$556 thousand—to clear massive amounts of debris; make repairs to farms and fields; and fix water control structures.

The Governor also announced that certain regulations will be temporarily suspended to allow additional financial assistance for the rebuilding of rural communities to be approved and distributed as quickly as possible.

Farmers and others who think their property might be eligible for aid should contact their county soil and water district, who’ll send someone out to do an evaluation.