Congressman Paul Tonko tours flood-damaged businesses in the Schoharie Valley, even holding a town hall meeting Saturday to address ongoing recovery efforts. Our Brandon Walker was there and has more.

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MIDDLEBURGH, N.Y. – “it's a long haul and it's taken its toll," said business owner Patty Eddy-Beal.

Roughly four months later and Patty Eddy-Beal is back open for business. Picking up the pieces, though still unsure about the road ahead.

Eddy-Beal said, “We're concerned about a lot of things including the dam and the creeks. And the buildings. Being able to save them."

“Life and the struggle continues for far too many," said Congressman Paul Tonko.

Eddy-Beal shares her story with Congressman Paul Tonko, part of a daylong tour Saturday of Irene-damaged businesses.

Tonko said, “In the first stage you want to connect people to programs but we want to see how those efforts are working. Where they're not working and why."

For that, residents joined the congressman for a town hall meeting at Schoharie High School. Their concerns, plenty.

Take for instance Joe Bender who lost not only his business but his home, as well.

Esperance resident Joe Bender said, “And unless we get some kind of tax breaks and grants of some sort, we really don't see how we're going to be able to afford to do all this."

For that, a presentation from the IRS on what can be deducted, or amended from last year's tax return. Though, for others, like Trisha Nelson the road home has been wrought with finger pointing between FEMA and her mortgage company.

Howes Cave resident Trisha Nelson said, “Took three days to give us an answer that they weren't going to help us and five months for an appeal that they still haven't helped us out with."

Concerns the Congressman is fully aware of and hopes he can help correct.

“So there are a lot of adjustments and fine tuning, I think, within the programs. And to try to get that done as hastily as we can is the challenge to us," said Tonko.

And an even tougher challenge for some who, months later, are still fighting to return home.