Fund disbursements will help cover losses

 

Immediately after Tropical Storm Irene’s floods devastated parts of Granville, local citizens started raising fund to help their neighbors.

That money is now available to the 38 households that suffered severe damage from the Aug. 28 storm.

 Village Clerk Treasurer Rick Roberts said the residents who came together to conduct two separate fund-raising dinners, one at O’Callahan’s and one at the Forum, figured out afterwards they had no way to fairly disburse the money. The needs were great in some cases and not as urgent in others so the money was handed over to the village for safekeeping.

At the December Village Board meeting, members decided to distribute those funds by giving up to $250 to those homeowners who can prove an expenditure that has not been reimbursed in another way. The evacuations and damage occurred on Factory Street, Rathbun Avenue, Glen Street and River Valley Drive.

Roberts said the village board decided to give out the money this way in hopes of helping residents impacted by the flooding to replace items lost in the flooding, but not covered by insurance.

“It could be anything. It could be a bed that wasn’t covered or maybe a hot water heater that you had to replace that wasn’t covered – that’s the only requirement – it wasn’t covered by insurance,” Roberts said.

Residents who wish to file a claim can come to the village hall.

“We’re not trying to make this too difficult, if they could just bring us a bill or something like that we can get it done,” Roberts said.

The claims will be evaluated on a case by case basis, so when in doubt just come to the village hall and ask what might be needed to back up a claim, Roberts said.

The donated funds were combined with funds left in an emergency account to create a funds making about $250 available for each household.