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Above: FEMA External Affairs Interns inspect the recovery effort in Prattsville on Feb. 22, 2012. Photo by Hans Pennink.
Wednesday is the deadline for New York State towns and counties to submit lists of properties for a federal buyout program.
Under the program, run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, home and business owners with badly damaged properties in flood-prone areas can get up to 75 percent of the pre-flood value of their properties from FEMA. The other 25 percent is the responsibility of the homeowner, unless the local government agrees to cover the cost.
Individuals cannot apply to FEMA directly to be part of the buyout. To be considered, properties must be on lists submitted to FEMA by the state Office of Emergency Management, which applies on behalf of local governments.
Here are some links to news coverage of the program, from around New York State:
Daily Mail: Catskill draws up list of flood-prone properties.
WCAX: Five dozen homeowners in Essex County want buyouts, most in the town of Jay.
Plattsburgh Press-Republican: FEMA may buy 56 Essex County homes.
Below: A PowerPoint presentation given on the program at the Margaretville meeting.