Governor Andrew Cuomo today formally requested that President Barack Obama declare a major federal disaster for New York State and 26 counties, including St. Lawrence County, as a result of the severe rains and incessant damaging flooding that has occurred since late April.

Flood damage in the Raquette River communities of Colton, Potsdam and Norwood was estimated at $1 million before federal inspectors came to look for themselves.

The governor is making the request for federal assistance based on the results of a rapid joint assessment, which he requested from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on April 29.

Preliminary information from the assessment of the 26 counties indicates the widespread impact, devastation and severity of the damages. The FEMA-State teams estimate more than $38 million in infrastructure repair and debris removal.

The severe damage to private property affected 1,060 residences across upstate, destroying 14 homes and leaving 218 with major damage, much of which is uninsured.

The governor has requested that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak issue a natural disaster designation.

"The seemingly never-ending rains and ensuing flooding have caused severe damage and losses in many corners of the state," Governor Cuomo said. "While state agencies continue to do all that is possible to assist the impacted areas, I am asking President Obama for federal assistance to help our citizens and their communities on the road to recovery."

Based on that assessment, the Governor is seeking the implementation of FEMA's Public Assistance program for 21 counties, St. Lawrence County not included.

That program provides 75 percent federal reimbursement to municipalities for the costs of debris removal and emergency response actions as well as for repairs to public facilities.

But St. Lawrence County is included in a request for help from the Individual Assistance program, which includes the Individuals and Households program, Other Needs Assistance program, disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling and the maximum allowable assistance to individuals and businesses from the Small Business Administration.

Governor Cuomo has also asked that FEMA implement statewide its Hazard Mitigation program, which provides 75 percent of the approved costs undertaken by state and local governments to prevent long-term risk to life or property from such disasters.