WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWNY) – Jefferson County will finally receive federal aid following recent flooding.

A few weeks ago, residents of Jefferson County saw their backyards turn into ponds. Basements also flooded with water. Water heaters and other items were damaged or destroyed.

State Rep. Scott Gray (R. – 116th District) received several calls from residents wanting to help.

“We initially worked with the county and set up a QR code to capture the information people submitted,” he said.

Eight hours after the QR code was created, the state recognized that there was significant damage to homes and extended the grant assistance already offered to other counties to Jefferson County.

Because Jefferson County is on the list, residents in the area can apply to the state for financial assistance to repair any damage caused by the storm that struck earlier this month.

“I think the grant will help us a lot, especially if I can’t get my heater running before winter starts. With inflation and everything else, we really don’t have that much money to spend on things like that right now,” said Jared St. Croix, who lives in Watertown.

To apply for a grant, homeowners must have qualifying income, prove that their insurance company denied them coverage, and that they paid the cost of repairing the damage out of their own pocket.

Gray recommends that residents document all their expenses.

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