Gowanda is still working to rebuild areas after devastating floods in the summer of 2009 left significant damage to village infrastructure and two people dead. Most of the village is physically repaired by now, but they're still dealing with a large financial burden.

The FEMA funding means the village of Gowanda can avoid entering into more borrowing agreements for repairs.

Delays getting the funding from FEMA have already cost the village of Gowanda hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest, and could have cost ten of thousands more had it not finally come through.