Wayne County Office of the Administrator

Wayne County Court House

26 Church St, Lyons New York 14489-1134

Richard R. House 315-946-5480

E-mail: rhouse@co.wayne.ny.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wayne County Humanitarian Response Team & Sand Hill Mobile Home Park

Earlier this year, many county and community agencies found themselves in unfamiliar territory – a
community was in trouble, and it was not the kind of trouble our plans and guidelines prepared us for.
This community was Canal Side Mobile Home Park in Lyons, and the event was a prolonged power
outage during one of the hottest parts of the year. This power outage put residents through physical,
emotional and financial stress; and their hardship was made worse by the fact that the local health and
human services sector was largely unprepared to respond to their specific circumstances.

In the aftermath of Canal Side, Public Health Director Diane Devlin called on local agencies to convene
and form a Response Team that could collaborate to serve residents in similar situations in the future.
This was not a moment too soon. On December 6th, the New York State Department of Health’s Geneva
Environmental District Office (GEDO) notified the same park operator that the permit was being revoked
for Sand Hill Mobile Home Park. Those who followed Canal Side closely will recall that local media also
interviewed residents of Sand Hill, and that it was in a similar state of disrepair. Those familiar with Sand
Hill are especially concerned about the failing septic system and unsafe electrical infrastructure.

This time, agencies had come together to proactively plan a response to care for the residents who would
be affected. Those at the planning meeting included Arcadia Supervisor John Verkey, County
Administrator Rick House, Department of Aging & Youth, Department of Social Services, Humane
Society, Legal Assistance of Western New York, NYSDOH GEDO, Office of Emergency Management,
Public Health, Water & Sewer Authority, Wayne Behavioral Health Network, Wayne CAP and the Wayne
County Sheriff’s Office. This group rapidly identified services they could provide and others who should
be at the table, including Family Promise.

On the evening of Tuesday, December 10th, a group of representatives from the Response Team went to
Sand Hill Mobile Home Park to notify residents, offer assistance, and learn about their needs and
concerns. This team was led by NYSDOH GEDO Director Patrick Toye and included individuals from his
office, DSS, Family Promise, Public Health, Wayne Behavioral Health Network, and the Wayne County
Sheriff’s Office. During this visit, residents were notified of a meeting to be held on Friday December 13 th
at 6pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County, where agencies will gather to assist them.
Residents were also given a list of resources, from emergency housing to crisis counseling.

A CALL TO ACTION: If you or an agency you represent are able and willing to assist with this type of
response, please reach out to Wayne County Public Health at (315) 946-5749. If you know of a situation
where the Response Team is needed, please reach out to your local elected supervisor or call the Wayne
County Board of Supervisors at (315) 946-5403. For more information about the closure of Sand Hill
Mobile Home Park, please contact the New York State Department of Health Geneva Environmental
District Office at (315) 789-3030.