New York State is confronting a clear and measurable rise in extreme weather. Policymakers are beginning to respond with targeted support and resiliency initiatives.
This article examines recent findings from the New York State Comptroller on disaster trends. It also looks at the heavy toll on communities like Oneida County and new legislation proposed by State Senator Joe Griffo to help residents, businesses, and local governments better prepare for and recover from severe weather events.
Escalating Severe Weather Across New York State
New York is experiencing an unmistakable increase in extreme weather. According to a new report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, the state has averaged about 2.5 federally declared disasters per year since 1998.
This trend is consistent with broader national data showing more frequent and more damaging storms, floods, and other climate-related emergencies.
Federally declared disasters are not minor events; they trigger emergency aid and recovery funds because local capacities are overwhelmed. The fact that New York now experiences these disasters multiple times per year underscores the mounting strain on infrastructure, emergency services, and local economies.
County-level impacts: Oneida and Suffolk in focus
Some counties are bearing a disproportionate burden. Suffolk County, on Long Island, leads the state with 1,751 recorded severe weather events between 1996 and 2024.
Oneida County, in Central New York, ranks ninth, with 1,305 severe weather events during the same period—an exceptionally high figure for an inland community.
The vulnerability of Oneida County was dramatically illustrated in July 2024, when an EF-2 tornado struck the region. The storm caused significant damage to community landmarks, including St. Mary’s Church and the First Presbyterian Church in Rome.
Such events disrupt daily life, erode community identity, and impose costly, long-term recovery challenges.
Targeted Legislation: Central New York Extreme Weather Relief
State Senator Joe Griffo has introduced legislation designed to bolster both immediate relief and long-term resilience. The bill focuses on Central New York and the Mohawk Valley, but it also serves as a model for how New York can address climate-related risks statewide.
The centerpiece of this proposal is the Central New York Extreme Weather Relief and Resiliency Grant Program. It is envisioned as a financial lifeline for those directly impacted by extreme weather.
Who the grant program is designed to help
The proposed grant program would provide assistance to a wide range of entities that suffer direct physical damage from severe weather, including:
By explicitly including these groups, the legislation acknowledges that the impacts of extreme weather ripple through entire local economies.
Strengthening Home Repair and Retrofit Programs
Beyond immediate grants, the bill also aims to scale up existing state programs to make communities more resilient before the next storm hits. Two key initiatives are singled out for expansion: the Resilient and Ready Storm Damage Recovery Program and the Resilient Retrofit Program.
These programs would be enhanced to offer more robust emergency home repair assistance and more comprehensive reimbursements following storm damage.
The goal is to reduce the time families remain in unsafe or unstable housing and to encourage rebuilding in ways that reduce future risk.
From recovery to resilience
By emphasizing resiliency, this legislation encourages reconstruction practices that make homes and buildings better able to withstand future events. That includes improved roofing systems, strengthened foundations, flood-resistant materials, and other evidence-based mitigation measures.
Insurance Incentives for Risk Mitigation
One of the more forward-looking components of Senator Griffo’s proposal is the creation of a property/casualty insurance resiliency incentive program. This program is designed to harness the power of the insurance market to reward proactive risk reduction.
The idea is straightforward: homeowners, landlords, and businesses that invest in mitigation—such as structural reinforcements, storm shutters, or upgraded drainage—would be eligible for insurance discounts.
This approach aligns financial incentives with safer building practices, making resilience more affordable and attractive.
Aligning economics with climate realities
Insurance incentives help close the gap between short-term costs and long-term benefits. By lowering premiums for those who invest in resilience, the policy acknowledges a simple truth: mitigating damage before a storm is almost always cheaper than rebuilding afterward.
In economic terms, it is a shift from reactive spending to proactive investment.
Preparing New York for a More Volatile Climate
Senator Griffo has emphasized the “significant challenges” that extreme weather poses for Central New York and the Mohawk Valley. He highlights that recovery is often lengthy, complex, and expensive.
His legislation responds directly to these challenges by combining immediate relief mechanisms with long-term strategies to harden infrastructure and reduce vulnerability.
As climate-related risks continue to grow, such initiatives represent more than local or regional policy responses. They are part of a broader transition in how states manage environmental risk.
Here is the source article for this story: State Senator Griffo introduces bill to aid areas hit by extreme weather