Chair Fitzpatrick Calls for Bold Action as Flooding Crisis Reaches Breaking Point
From Steuben County, picture from the flood of 2024
BATH, NY – In a resolute and impassioned statement issued today, Kelly H. Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Steuben County Legislature, declared that Steuben County will no longer accept delay, neglect, or half-measures in the face of a worsening flood crisis that continues to ravage the region.
“For three years, our people have endured what should have been once-in-a-century disasters—over and over again,” Fitzpatrick said. “And while the waters keep rising, so does our determination. We are done waiting. We will not be ignored.”
Severe and repeated flooding has battered homes, destroyed farmland, crippled infrastructure, and put lives at risk across Steuben County. In response, local officials have taken aggressive steps to assess damage, reinforce vulnerable systems, and prepare for future disasters. But Fitzpatrick made it clear: local action alone is not enough.
“Steuben County is doing its part—and then some,” she said. “But this is bigger than any one county. We need the full strength of our state and federal partners, and we need it now.”
Fitzpatrick emphasized that her administration is already working closely with municipal leaders, New York State agencies, and federal emergency authorities, but urged faster action, deeper investment, and long-term commitments.
“This is not just about rebuilding what was lost,” she continued. “It’s about protecting what still stands. It’s about making sure our families, our farmers, our small businesses, and our first responders are not left to face this crisis alone.”
In a message directed to those impacted by the floods, Fitzpatrick delivered a powerful message of unity and resolve: “To every resident who has lost a home, a harvest, or a sense of safety—you are not forgotten. We are fighting for you, and we will not stop until real solutions are delivered.”
She concluded with a rallying call to the broader community and all levels of government: “Steuben County is not asking for charity. We’re demanding what’s fair. What’s right. What’s long overdue. We will not be sidelined, and we will not be broken.”
