Washington, DC, Dec 28, 2011 — FEMA has already paid out more than $150 million to New Yorkers who were affected by tropical storms Irene and Lee. And more financial help is on the way for state and local governments.  Go to full article

Colton, NY, Jun 16, 2011 — Just last week, the Federal Government declared 21 New York Counties federal disaster areas, after this spring's flooding. But St. Lawrence county was NOT one of those counties.

Turns out St. Lawrence County wasn't passed over--it hasn't yet applied for aid. County officials aren't confident there's been $336,000 in public infrastructure damage--that's the amount required to qualify for the aid.

Colton has been the most heavily affected community in the county, but most of that damage--about $800,000 in all--was to private homes. Nora Flaherty spoke with Colton Town Supervisor Lawrence Patzwald about where things stand now:  Go to full article

Jan 15, 2010 — There are still only estimates of the death toll from Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti. Authorities say it could reach 50,000 people. Meanwhile, survivors are coping with continuing aftershocks as they wait for help.

Emergency aid workers in Haiti say tempers are growing short and more security is needed. There are reports of looting in Haiti's capital. The U.N. World Food Program says it doesn't yet know how much is missing from its pre-earthquake stockpile of 15,000 tons of food.

Dylia Claydon is watching closely from her home in West Stockholm, near Potsdam. She grew up in Haiti, the daughter Christian Lanoue, who, she says, was prime minister in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Claydon is now 82. Her family fled the country in 1958, after Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier rose to power.
She told Jonathan Brown she has family on the island.  Go to full article

May 22, 2008 — By the Myanmar junta's own count, at least 134,000 people are dead or missing after a cyclone three weeks ago. The U.N. says up to 2.5 million survivors are hungry and homeless and there are worries about disease outbreaks. The ruling generals have restricted visas for foreign aid workers and barred foreigners in the country from visiting affected areas. Still, there are non-governmental efforts, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, other NGOs...and those of individual people. North Creek residents Woody and Elise Widlund found one of the smallest and most personal aid pipelines. In five trips to Myanmar with Nevada Wier, a photographer who specializes in taking pictures of indigenous people living in traditional ways, they've visited villages that had not seen westerners in 20 to 30 years. They've made friends, including Phyo, who's now out on the Irrawaddy delta, delivering supplies bought in part by an e-mail network of people like the Widlunds in North Creek. Martha Foley spoke with Woody Widlund yesterday. He said the key link in the chain is Nevada Weir, who forwarded news from Phyo a couple days ago.
(Nevada Wier, PO Box 8032, Santa Fe, NM 87504.)  Go to full article

Jun 28, 2006 — Governor Pataki says property damage from this week's deadly flooding is likely to total about 100 million dollars. Forecasters say more flooding could be coming tomorrow. They say runoff from today's torrential rain could drive water levels across the state even higher. Today's flooding killed at least three people in upstate New York, closed a 50-mile stretch of the Thruway and caused mass evacuations. Gregory Warner spoke with two Mohawk Valley residents - Sarah Ackroyd of Fort Plain and Jim Garrison of Nelliston.  Go to full article

Nov 16, 2005 — State Senator Betty Little has introduced a bill that would require blood tests for boat captains involved in serious accidents. The legislation follows the capsizing of the Ethan Allen on October 2 on Lake George. That accident left twenty elderly passengers dead. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Oct 07, 2005 — The Ethan Allen was re-floated on Lake George yesterday, four days after it capsized with 47 elderly tourists aboard. Twenty passengers, all from Michigan, died in the accident. The tour boat is being tested by the National Transportation Safety Board. Brian Mann reports.  Go to full article

Oct 05, 2005 — Many of the passengers board the Ethan Allen were visiting Lake George as part of a leaf-peeping tour. They were elderly men and women, mostly from Michigan. Brian Mann spoke with Gerald Brown, the mayor of Trenton, Michigan, where at least three of the victims lived. Mayor Brown says his town is in mourning.  Go to full article

Sep 08, 2005 — Operation Respite, a group from Cambridge, New York wants to house hurricane evacuees. The Washington County effort was covered in a CNN news report, and response was quick. Ten refugee families were supposed to arrive sometime today. But that's not going to happen, yet. Ted Bernt is coordinator of Operation Respite. He says the delay is not necessarily bad news. And it's an indication of how complicated and difficult the hurricane effort is. Bernt spoke with Gregory Warner yesterday afternoon.  Go to full article

Sep 07, 2005 — An Alexandria Bay resident is organizing local homeowners to take in families left homeless by Katrina. Jane Aiken formed Operation H.O.S.T.--that stands for Helping Others Survive Tragedy - last Friday. She's got 16 families so far, offering to take in 40 people. She spoke with Gregory Warner.

Her number is 315-482-3970. Operation H.O.S.T. has an organizational meeting tonight at 7:30. That's at the Dutch Reform Church on Church Street in Alexandria Bay.  Go to full article