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Neighbors worry about more Lake Ontario flooding

Posted at 11:25 PM, Apr 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-18 23:25:18-04

As the weather takes a turn, there are neighbors along Lake Ontario hoping it doesn’t cause flooding like last year.

Dozens of people in Niagara County came together Wednesday night to get a sense of what the plan for handling a potential flooding situation is.

The state has budgeted $15 million dollars to help people living along the shore in Niagara County, but getting that money is not easy.

“It's complicated, it’s not just you lost a little land… It’s a lot of legal stuff,” said one resident.

It’s that complication that brought almost 100 neighbors to the Ransomville fire hall Wednesday to learn about this year's plan, as only last year's destruction will be paid for.

“There's no new money coming for 2018, the only money that will be coming now will be for 2017,” said Town of Porter Supervisor Duffy Johnston.

Last year, the water was, at times, three feet above its normal level, so neighbors want clarification about what is being done.

“They have a legitimate concern that there is going to be flooding again,” said Johnston.

This year is expected to be better, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t uncertainty.

“It’s not as bad as last year but Superior and Huron still have ice on them. That water is going to come down. We don’t know what we’re going to get at the end of April or May, could be more rain,” Johnston says.

Neighbors are ready for anything and they know having strength in numbers only helps them receive more help in recovery.

Wednesday’s meeting was just the beginning for neighbors along Lake Ontario, with another scheduled for May 16, when they hope more neighbors can be educated about the progress to be made on the lake.

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