After Sag Harbor Fire, First Steps Being Taken to Help Business Owners Recover Losses

SAG HARBOR, NY — Steps are being taken to help provide relief for business owners dealt a devastating blow after a fire swept through Main Street in Sag Harbor on Dec. 16.

Recently, New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, who lives in Sag Harbor, and New York State Senator Ken LaValle sent a request to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, asking for the U.S. Small Business Administration to grant the Village of Sag Harbor a special disaster declaration that would allow residents to apply for the SBA Disaster Recovery Program.

This week, Thiele received a letter from Cuomo's office and the New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services, stating that the staff is "taking the necessary steps to ensure that the affected small business owners will be provided information on the types of assistance available as they recover from this incident."

Recovery staff from the DHSES, the letter said, has contacted representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration "to begin the process of assessing the damage to the affected businesses."

DHSES, the letter said, will work with Sag Harbor Village, Suffolk County and the SBA to gather information on the type and extent of damage suffered by the businesses due to the blaze.

That information will be analyzed to see what assistance will be available under the Small Business Act, the letter said.

"Once the extent of losses to these businesses is known and substantial economic injury is established, the state can proceed with a request to the SBA for federal assistance," the letter from DHSES read.

Congressman Lee Zeldin also lent his voice to the plea for help.

Zeldin issued a statement of support to grant federal aid for Sag Harbor Village through the Small Business Administration's Disaster Recovery Program.

“Sag Harbor Village was recently ravaged by a fire that severely impacted the local main street economy. Fortunately, thanks to the swift action of the community’s first responders, no lives were lost during the tragic fire," Zeldin said. "However, the economic damage to the community was devastating. In this small community of just over 2,000 people, this sort of economic disruption has severe negative impacts."

He added, "It is so important that the afflicted business owners provide information on the damages sustained to the state as soon as possible as part of this process. I also encourage Governor Cuomo to act expeditiously in making this formal request for a disaster declaration."

Zeldin said he's contacted the SBA to ensure that the issue is made a priority once Cuomo moves forward with the special disaster declaration.

Sag Harbor Village, Zeldin said, "is a vibrant historical community that represents so much of what makes Long Island a great place to live, work and visit. A disaster declaration would provide residents and business owners with access to the necessary resources to ensure a speedy and full recovery from last month’s fire.”

Patch photo courtesy of Arnold Tilton.