Kate Bowie, ‘When we found out yesterday we could not get the funding — the funding (Gov. Hochul) told us to our face we were getting, it was absolutely soul-crushing’
(Editor’s Note: We had John Anderson contact the governor’s office as he was in Allegany and Steuben counties for two days covering the flooding and attended the Sunday press conference. There are links highlighted through the story to help families in need. In the photo above, Anderson asks Hochul questions. Here is John’s reporting.)
Story and photos by JOHN ANDERSON
Kate and Jen Bowie leaned against a guide rail leading to a bridge that does not exist anymore listening to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul talk about the storm damage. They were behind the wall of media and behind Hochul was a wall of elected officials.
They did hear one statement, an additional $50,000 to homeowners affected in South Canisteo and the region from the flooding after Hurricane Debby.
If you live in Canisteo or Hornell, you know the Bowie’s. For over 16 years, Kate Bowie has been a special education teacher in Canisteo-Greenwood and Jen Bowie is a physical education instructor at Hornell and coaches the high school softball team.
The governor hugged them, talked to them and left. The Bowie’s went up to Kate’s parents house where they have to live and filled out the information. Turns out, they make too much money based on the median income of $60,000 a year for the total income at the address.
SORRY, YOU MAKE TOO MUCH
There is a reason the Bowie’s are not home. The press conference was held in front of their house for a reason — it’s split in half from the flood damage. Kate Bowie posted the photo of the governor speaking in front of their home and explained they would not get the funding. The post has over 1,800 shares and got the attention of the state.
“We make too much money because the median income for this area is $60,000? She literally said “we’re going to give $50,000 cash, per family.’ She didn’t say anything about stipulations,” Kate Bowie told the Sun. “We lost everything. I have to pay a mortgage on a house I can not live in. It doesn’t matter what I make, we can’t afford to live anywhere else.” (Bowie family GoFundMe)
THE POST GETS NOTICED
Two of the top brass from the state joined Hochul for the press conference. One was Marie Therese Dominguez, the New York State Transportation (DOT) Commissioner since 2019 who has over 25 years in the industry.
The other was Jackie Bray, the Commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
As the Facebook post was going viral Tuesday night, Bray called Kate Bowie to let her know she saw the post and she would be getting ahold of her today.
The Sun reached out to the governor’s office for answers from Gov. Hochul and received an immediate phone call that questions would be answered.
GOV. HOCHUL RESPONDS
The questions asked by the Sun today were not completely answered.
We asked “why (did the Bowie family) not qualify? Has the governor or someone from the office talked to the Bowie’s today? Did the governor see their post on Facebook which has 1,700 shares?”
A spokesperson issued the following statement, “As Governor Hochul said on Sunday, she’s committed to helping this community recover and rebuild. Our Administration reached out to this family immediately after this eligibility issue was brought to our attention, and we’re working to address it.”
Kate Bowie posted Tuesday night, “Dear @govkathyhochul, Two days ago, you stood in front of MY house, talked about MY tragedy and how “heartsick” it made you. You said you were “committed to helping the people of this community.” And yet, today I find out that none of this is actually true because we don’t qualify for your funding. You used us for a photo op, for your own gain. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
She put her phone down and went back to her life.
But life gets interrupted when you go viral.
Her neighbor, Sarah Hjort learned that when she posted a Facebook live video that is nearing 4 million views. However, that video brought the attention of the nation, and the state to South Canisteo. She has had television crews at her home and talking to her neighbors.
Now the Bowie’s are getting the same, days after they had crews in the remains of their yard.
“No way did I think my post would go viral,” Bowie said. “I didn’t even know people were sharing it. We had friends come over and they said, ‘Did you see your post has been shared 650 times?’ I was like ‘what?’ We went to show them the house and there was a reporter there trying to find me,” Kate Bowie said. “That’s when I realized it was bigger than what I know.”
Then the phone rang, It was Bray, one of the top officials in the state.
“We received a phone call from the secretary of homeland security who will be calling us back today. She said she wanted to help, she was going to try to find out some information,” said Kate Bowie.
In the photo above from Sunday in Canisteo, Jackie Bray, left, the Commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services who called the Bowie’s Sunday night. On the right is Marie Therese Dominguez, the New York State Transportation (DOT) Commissioner. Dominguez quietly left the press conference and without press, toured the damaged areas and talked to DOT employees who are working around the clock to repair the bridge and other state roads.
The Sun has reached out to Sen. Tom O’Mara’s office by phone and email to see if he can step in and help. O’Mara spent all day in Canisteo and stuck around for the press conference. He was asked to speak at the press conference by Hochul. He said he was there to listen and help.
LOSING EVERYTHING
Just past the Bowie home is the home of Billy and Erin Weakland, who live there with their three children. Well, they used to live there.
Their homes were considered “ground zero” for the water damage by local officials as the roads were washed out. As much damage they have had — the Bowie house is split in half — they are more concerned for their neighbors concerned with the road and bridge washed out, over the weekend it took 45 minutes to get emergency service vehicles to their neighbors.
The Weakland’s were also asked about having the press conference near their home. They agreed only because they wanted help for all of the residents of Steuben and Allegany counties who were affected by the flood from the state.
“If it can bring awareness to this area and community,” Erin Weakland said, stopping mid-sentence to fight back tears. “Obviously we are distraught and I want this back to normal for my kids … we are not the only ones.”
“I just want people to see what we need and get outside support,” Erin Weakland said. “We have a community that supports each other, but we need help from other people.”
The families in South Canisteo — some are multi-generation families on farms — are being told they can not get insurance because they are in a flood zone.
Billy Weakland hopes this will change when they see what happened.
“Let’s see if they change this from a flood zone now,” he said.
As Kate Bowie looked at her home she said, “It feels like it’s not real. You are living it obviously, but you don’t know how to handle it.”
She tried to give the governor the benefit of the doubt on Sunday after promises of additional financial help.
“It’s nice she cares and she’s trying to help, but we want help for everyone,” Kate Bowie said. “The people up the road have to go 45 minutes in one direction. God forbid they have an emergency. They need these roads fixed.”
THE HORROR OF FLOODING
Jen Bowie talked about seeing the flood water rush up. It was the same thing Jennifer Hurlburt was dealing with.
Hurlburt’s home was one of the homes captured on the viral video by Hjort (Sarah Piguet on Facebook).
“There was too much water, it was coming on the porch and )onto the first floor) so I had to go to the second story and open the windows … I made the worst phone call of my life to my daughter .. I had to tell her where I was,” Hurlburt told WHAM 13’s Carleigh Minor, fighting back emotion. “And to say good-bye because I didn;t know what was going to happen.”
(The GoFundMe to help the Hurlburt’s and the family of Kelly Burdick and Logan Drake)
After two and a half hours, she was rescued from the second floor. It was three years after the last storm. A lot of residents did not get help after that storm. The only news that reached the state level from that storm was the damage to Jasper-Troupsburg Central School.
Jen Bowie saw the waters coming in and the house splitting.
“We almost didn’t make it,” she said. “We tried to leave on Route 36 but both roads were washed out so we turned around and came back, we drove through three feet of water and on the other side, the road was washed out.
“We were fortunate we were able to get up the hill and our neighbors, the Burritt’s, opened their doors and let us stay with them,” Jen Bowie continued. “Kate’s dad and brother fortunately found a way to get to us later and bring us to their home.”
CRUSHING TO A TEACHER
Kate Bowie is hoping to get answers. She knows they make good money, but they’ve also been at the same job they love.
“We’ve both been teaching for 16 years, so we do make decent money, but we lost everything,” she said. “I adore being a teacher, I am a special education teacher, it’s what I’ve done my whole career and it’s what I love. And Jen is the most amazing PE teacher on the planet, she puts her heart and soul into everything she does. She’s a great coach, the kids love and respect. her.”
Kate likes to share positive news. So the viral post is something that happened out of frustration.
“Obviously Friday was devastating and a rough day for both of us,” she said. “From there on out, Jen and I have tried to keep a positive mindset. We believe everything happens for a reason, While it was devastating, we have our lives. We narrowly escaped. We have my parents who are letting us stay, the community has been supportive. We are trying to be positive and hopeful.”
And now, she is going to talk to Bray and anyone from the state and federal government about helping others.
“When we found out yesterday we could not get the funding — the funding (Gov. Hochul) told us to our face we were getting, it was absolutely soul-crushing,” Kate Bowie said. “I was so upset I felt I needed to say something. And it’s not just for us, our neighbors need help. So many people in this community lost things. Some in our community qualify, but a lot do not. I want everyone to get what they need.”
Other links:
• Langworthy, O’Mara visit flooding
• Other ways to get emergency assistance
• State pledges to help flood victims
• Canisteo Fire Department responds
• Flood damage in Potter County
• Story, video and photos from storm
