HAMBURG, N.Y. (WKBW) — High winds mixed with high lake levels and wicked waves have destroyed homes in Hamburg’s Hoover Beach neighborhood.
“This has gone well beyond what we have expected,” said Leanne Powers who lives along the lakeshore. “It smells like a fresh water lake in my home.”
Powers and her family have been up all night dealing with the destruction. Her finished basement is destroyed. Her hot tub, torn to pieces from the wind along with pieces of her home.
“The winds sounded like a bomb went off,” she said.
Some of the break walls did give way along the shore. Powers and her family prepared for days for the storm, but she says because of the historically high lake levels, break walls are not holding up.
She says there needs to be a permanent solution for the 100 neighbors in that area of the lake.
“The damage is a direct result of such high lake levels,” she said. “Never has there been anything like this.”
While we were there, Congressman Brian Higgins stopped by to survey the damage. His office does not represent that district, but it is left without congressional representation after Chris Collins left office.
Higgins agrees something needs to be done.
“I’m asking the Army Corps of Engineers,” he said of the break wall issue.
Hamburg Town Supervisor Jim Shaw says he will be applying for FEMA aid for residents there.
