Vestal Flood Buyout Homes to be Torn Down

In Vestal, the most heavily damaged homes from 2011’s Tropical Storm are to be torn down over the next few days.

Town Supervisor John Schaffer says the properties that have been deemed unsafe to enter are the first to go under a Federal Emergency Management Agency buyout program.

FEMA had covered 75% of the buyout cost and New York State stepped up to cover the remaining balance.

32 properties have been finally closed on with another 26 in the process of completing the buyout process.

Under the program, the properties will be designated forever green spaces that cannot be developed.