FEMA funds will help communities across the Capital Region rebuild, but one area fears they won't get all the help they need. Our Solomon Syed visited with folks in Montgomery County, one of the few counties left off FEMA's private aid list.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

FULTONVILLE, N.Y. -- Repairs continue in Montgomery County after flood waters soaked homes and washed out entire basements. Amsterdam almost drowned and Fultonville Mayor Robert Headwell says the village's damages could top a million dollars.

"Very easily, each homeowner's going to go through ten, fifteen thousand dollars just dealing with the main appliances in your home, not counting any of the other belongings that might have been destroyed," Headwell said.

Headwell's not only the mayor, but a victim, knowing first-hand Irene's destructive power. During a tour of his house, he showed us the new water heater, which replaced the old one that floated to the basement ceiling and damaged water pipes during Irene's downpour.

There's also the heater, which may be too waterlogged to ever pump warm air again.

For the time being, he and other Montgomery County residents will have to rebuild and repair without FEMA's assistance.

Congressman Paul Tonko, who represents the county, vows to fight for funding and says FEMA could change their minds as damage totals are reassessed in the days and weeks ahead.

"It's all about priorities," Tonko said. "And the prioritization has to place the struggle that families, individuals and businesses are enduring right now."

In the meantime, the mayor's handing out inventory forms so residents can document and tabulate just how extensive their damages are, so if and when FEMA changes their status, they can get the help they so desperately need.

"To not only get the infrastructure and stuff going, but to get these people to start rebuilding their lives. It's worse than frustrating," said flood victim Alan Rose. "It's that bad, it really is."

Governor Cuomo has formally requested Montgomery County be designated a disaster zone.

If you're Fultonville resident looking for an inventory form, the mayor says you can call him personally, or just stop by the village hall on Erie Street.