Griffo and Buttenschon: Legislation would help Central New York and Mohawk Valley communities hit hard by extreme weather
April 22, 2026
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ISSUE:
- Extreme Weather
During Severe Weather Awareness Week, New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon are pushing for legislation they have introduced that would assist Central New York and Mohawk Valley communities hit hard by extreme weather events and ensure that local governments are prepared for severe weather that may strike in the future.
Over the past several years, the region has experienced a series of significant weather events. On July 16, 2024, a high-end EF2 tornado struck Rome and caused significant damage across the city, as well as in Canastota. From approximately January 6 through February 25, 2025, extreme winter weather, including high winds, non-stop snow and blizzard like conditions, swept through Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, resulting in roof collapses, ice dams and damage to structures. In June 2025, severe storms - including a deadly tornado - hit Clark Mills, Kirkland, Clinton, Oneida and other communities in the region.
Sen. Griffo and Assemblywoman Buttenschon’s legislation (S.7761/A.8780), which is in committee, would:
- Provide grants to small businesses, farms, owners of multiple dwellings, homeowners associations and not-for-profit organizations that sustained direct physical damage from extreme weather events to help with repairs.
- Expand and strengthen the state’s Resilient and Ready Storm Damage Recovery and Resilient Retrofit programs to offer additional emergency home repair assistance and/or reimbursement to impacted homeowners recent extreme weather events in the region and those that may occur in the future.
- Create the Central New York property/casualty insurance resiliency incentive program to facilitate property/casualty insurance discounts for mitigation efforts. As a result of this program, property/casualty insurers in New York would be encouraged to offer loss mitigation tools and services to policyholders for free or reduced cost.
“Severe Weather Awareness Week is an opportune time to advocate for legislation that will help residents and communities hit hard by extreme weather events,” Sen. Griffo said. “We have seen the impact these events can have across our region. New Yorkers, local governments and schools need to know that when disaster strikes, the state will provide the resources necessary to help them rebuild, recover and move forward.”
“Unfortunately, the Mohawk Valley has faced the challenges from extreme weather occurrences,” Assemblywoman Buttenschon said. “This legislation is to assist those that need help during these unexpected disasters. This week we are reminded that no community is immune to extreme weather occurrences and the State government needs to assist in promoting resiliency and provide the resources for cleanup efforts.”
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