CANISTEO, N.Y. (WENY) -- Governor Kathy Hochul stood alongside state and local officials in Canisteo on Sunday afternoon and addressed the devastating flood damage that hit New York State.

Several smaller communities in Steuben County, like Canisteo, were hit particularly hard by the remnants of Tropical Depression Debby.

Hochul held a storm briefing on a severely damaged street and property in the village. The families who lived in these houses are just a few among many in the area who need a large amount of recovery help.

"Because in a moment of crisis, we stand as one New York," said Governor Hochul. "Do not think that this remote part of our state – in some eyes – does not have as much value as every single place. From our biggest cities to the furthest reaches of this state, every community matters. It has value."

State agencies have made their way through and around the county to provide help to all who need it. The Governor said they had over 7,000 utility crews ready to respond. The New York State Department of Transportation has deployed over 3,000 workers to help.

Additionally, the Red Cross has made its way to heavily affected towns to hand out supplies and food. Yesterday, they completed damage assessments. Today, they handed out cleanup kits and supplies before making their way around with pizza donated from a local business.

However, some people who have been affected by flooding in previous years say they are concerned about receiving necessary financial assistance. In the past, they felt the help was minimal.

"We're going to squeeze every single federal dollar out of the government we can," said Hochul. "I've already alerted the White House to expect our calls, but we have to assess the damage first. It takes some time, but our assessment teams are on the ground."

Hochul said mobile vans will be sent to the area to help people apply for their insurance and other forms of assistance.

"I’ve declared the Housing and Community Renewal agency will launch an emergency repair program for homeowners in Allegheny, Delaware, Franklin, Steuben and St. Lawrence counties that were impacted by the storm," said Hochul. "All these homeowners who have been impacted will be eligible for grants of up to $50,000 to help pay for reimbursement of expenses related to the storm that aren't covered by insurance or it is other disaster relief. This is a newer program. This program did not exist three years ago when Fred hit this area. It exists now."

According to a prepared statement from the Governor's office, under this program, the grants can be used to fund or reimburse certain qualifying health and safety related repairs for damage caused by the storm that are not covered by insurance or other disaster relief programs. Applicants for the grant must be homeowners that occupy the home as a primary residence. Also, the total household income may not exceed 100% of the area's median income. People owning homes in other counties may be eligible as damage assessments are conducted in the coming days.

The HRC program will be administered by local partners. They will work directly with homeowners affected by flood damage. This includes aiding with insurance, repairs and reconstruction, and reimbursement requests.

People who are eligible and wanting to apply can inquire here.

Hochul also mentioned that the New York State Department of Financial Services will be staffing their facilities in order to properly support people and business with their financial questions which includes help with insurance coverage for losses.

From August 12 to August 16, the department is extending the hours of its disaster hotline from 8:30 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. for people who are unable to make it to a resource center. Those locations will be announced in the coming days. Affected individuals can call 800-339-1759 for more information.

Since two major flooding disasters occurred in Steuben County just three years apart, some people in local small communities say they are concerned about preventative measures. This includes things like cleaning out creeks and making improvements to infrastructure.

"Yeah, we're taking back a lot of the feedback we received from our elected officials on the challenge of keeping these streams clear in advance of the storms because you can mitigate, and perhaps lessen the impacts if you do not have this vegetation, down trees, debris that is accumulating," said Hochul. "Particularly at these bridges that jam up and create these conditions that allow for the flooding."

Other helpful resources for flood victims were provided in a statement from Governor Hochul's Office are listed below.

"Additional Resources for Victims, Advice for Dealing with Insurers

New Yorkers who have been impacted by flooding are encouraged to visit the DFS Disaster and Flood Recovery Resource Center for helpful information.

Other resources and advice for impacted families and businesses include steps to help ensure that claims are processed promptly, as well as information on how to file a complaint if policyholders cannot resolve disputes with insurers.

File Claims Promptly – Homeowners who experienced property losses are urged to file insurance claims with their insurers promptly and as soon as possible after losses occur. It is important to provide policy numbers if possible and all information relevant to the loss. To best document losses, homeowners should take photos or videos showing the extent of the losses before cleaning up damage.

Making Necessary Repairs – Homeowners should protect their property from further damage after a loss, but should make only repairs necessary to prevent further damage to property, like covering broken windows. Permanent repairs should not be made until after insurers have inspected losses.

Keep Records of Dealings with Insurance Representatives – Homeowners should cooperate fully with their insurers and keep a diary of all conversations with insurance representatives, including the representatives' names, as well as the times and dates of all calls or visits. They should also follow up in writing with representatives to document their understanding of any conversations they have had with the representatives.

Inventory Your Belongings – Provide your insurer with a detailed room-by-room inventory of damaged personal items and property. Include receipts, such as credit card statements or other documents showing the items' values.

Flood Damage – Homeowners are reminded that flood damage is generally only covered by flood insurance, which is a federal program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Homeowners who have flood insurance and have flood damage should make claims through that insurance. Additionally, homeowners should also read their policies carefully to make sure they understand what damage is covered and under what circumstances. For additional on flood insurance, please visit the Flood Insurance Resource Center on the DFS website at http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/flood_info.htm.

Keep Your Receipts If You Relocate During Repairs – If you need to temporarily relocate while your home is being repaired, make sure to keep receipts and other records of your expenses during that time.

Filing Complaints – Homeowners unable to resolve disputes with their insurers may contact DFS to file a complaint at the following website location, http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/fileacomplaint.htm. DFS investigates all complaints it receives.

Information on Homeowners' Insurance – Additional information can be found at the Homeowners Resource Center on the Department of Financial Services' website at: http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/home_resources.htm."