Brian Sharp, and Steve Orr

Democrat and Chronicle

Local governments in Monroe County spent more than $11 million responding to the March windstorm and cleaning up debris, but they aren't going to get any federal disaster aid to help cover those costs.

County and New York state officials had sought a federal disaster declaration, which would free up federal aid to help pay for the work. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse villages, towns, cities and counties up to 75 percent of the money they spend on disaster response — if a declaration is made.

But FEMA rules specify that government expenses must reach predetermined minimums — and that threshold, at least at the state level, has not been met.

"We're not even close," said Monroe County spokesman Brett Walsh.

"After working with local officials in Monroe County to gather storm damage estimates, it has been determined that the threshold for Federal funding was not met," Kristin Devoe, director of public information for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, said in a statement.

That means Monroe municipalities will have to cover those unanticipated expenses by cutting other costs, reallocating money, tapping reserve funds or finding extra cash somewhere else. The state still is accepting community damage estimates, but Walsh said it is a foregone conclusion that totals will fall well short of FEMA's predetermined target of $27 million.

Calculations include only local government spending and damage to public infrastructure, not damage or expenses related to private property.

There is a remote chance for a state or federal special allocation to cover the costs, but Walsh said that is highly unlikely.

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By far, the most damage from the March windstorm occurred in Monroe County. The snowstorm that arrived days later was more widespread, also affecting downstate. Local municipalities estimated expenses at $2.6 million for that event, Walsh said, and the outcome at the state level is, as yet, unknown. A state emergency services spokeswoman did not return messages Tuesday.

Municipalities laid out money for police to block off roads with downed power lines, fire departments to respond to sparking power lines and recreation departments to open shelters. Both overtime pay and material were involved. But debris removal represents the biggest task that faced municipal crews.

“We’ve had overtime nonstop for the last two months to clear all this debris and costs are still mounting,” said Dave Seeley, supervisor in Irondequoit, which estimated windstorm-related expenses of at least $630,000.

Seeley said there were still efforts being made to win some sort of federal aid to help with response costs. But if none is forthcoming, the town will find a way to cover the expenses.

“We would start by tightening our belts. We can absorb a lot of those costs,” he said. “I think we already run lean. If we have to run a little bit leaner, we will.”

Similar assessments came from town leaders across the county.

"We may have to move money from other accounts into this one, and we do have a fund balance that we could appropriate," said Paul Holahan, the finance director in Greece whose estimated storm tab is $1.7 million. "I think we have enough of a fund balance that we can cover it without having to borrow money or do any other extraordinary" financial maneuvers.

In Gates, windstorm expenses in excess of $255,000 sapped the budgeted contingency funds. Money remains for debris pick-up and tree maintenance. But another significant emergency would force the town to dip into its reserves.

"It's a big deal," said town Supervisor Mark Assini. "We are going to have to absorb it."

The city of Rochester is in better shape, being under budget despite all the weather events, Mayor Lovely Warren said. A couple of relatively mild winters have resulted in surpluses, allowing the city to kick-in sand for sandbags to help residents hold back high water.

BDSHARP@Gannett.com

SORR@Gannett.com