Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced $2,737,500 in federal funding for the Town of Marshall in Oneida County to upgrade and scour the flood-prone bridge over the Oriskany Creek on Buell Avenue. These funds, which are being awarded as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) will cover 100 percent of the cost for the project. The funds will allow the county to improve the State Route 315 bridge over the Oriskany Creek to ensure it is protected against future threats from flooding.
“It is not enough to simply rebuild and repair; we must also prepare ourselves for the next storm and the next potential flood. That’s exactly what this federal grant will do, helping to lower the risk of flood damage to the Town of Marshall’s bridge,” said Senator Schumer. “These much-needed federal funds will help Oneida County and the Town of Marshall to scour this flood-prone bridge and upgrade surrounding structures to be more resilient in the face of future storms. Spending a penny today on flood-prevention efforts could save the federal government and Oneida County homeowners a dollar tomorrow in repair costs. Investing in local infrastructure creates jobs in the short term and bolsters our economy in the long term by enabling us to move goods, people and tourists safely and efficiently.”
“New York families and businesses need access to safe, reliable transportation infrastructure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This investment will help Oneida County and the Town of Marshall strengthen the bridge over Oriskany Creek and better safeguard it against further erosion and devastation from future flooding.”
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding under Section 404 of the Stafford Act, the federal disaster law that supplies aid to states and localities to implement long-term resiliency measures after a major disaster. The purpose of these grants is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.