Mohawk Valley leaders are disappointed that there will be no federal help available to people whose homes flooded on Halloween.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday denied the request for funds to help with those affected by that storm. The flooding took place in many areas in the region along with power outages throughout Central New York and the Southern Tier.

The Governor announced plans to appeal that decision.

Towns and villages looked to FEMA for assistance during the storm, which resulted in damages worth more than $10,000 for some residents. Area lawmakers said at a press conference Friday that the area has been hit time and time again with severe floods and they need FEMA to step up.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente was joined by state Sen. Joseph Griffo, a representative of Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, and Whitesboro Mayor Bob Friedlander.

"It really is a point of complete and utter frustration when you look at what this organization does,” Picente said. “Why do we have FEMA? What is the benefit? To come up and tell us no every time? Save it. I really can't stress the amount of anger and frustration."

For many across several counties, this isn't a disaster you can just bounce back from.

"I'm cold. At this point I've accepted the fact that they're not going to help us," Jacob Morgan of Whitesboro said.

Financial, physical, and emotional damage is ongoing.

"We have to visit our son. We also have a daughter that is disabled. What are they gonna do? Wait until someone dies to do something?," said Ronald Loubier of Whitesboro.

Many felt left out of FEMA's assessment process.

"They drove around the neighborhood and took figures, and estimated figures from other people. They did not interview people who actually lived in the neighborhood. So it's hard for me to understand how that can really give them accurate information to make this decision," said Susan Montrose of Whitesboro.

That "decision" Montrose is referencing is FEMA's decision to deny individual assistance.

Village residents are taking matters into their own hands, signing a petition urging lawmakers to take action. They especially want to gain the attention of state and federal representatives.

"There's a lot of local support, and a lot of good people. We're going to use that to lobby whoever has anything, can give us any help in giving money to rebuild or replace," said Montrose.

Morgan said he wishes presidential candidates would use their money to help, and make a statement through their actions.

In the meantime, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente is trying to see if more county funds can be used to help those impacted.

So why didn't FEMA grant the individual assistance?

A FEMA spokesperson said, "Based on our review of all of the information available, including the results of the joint federal, state, and local government Preliminary Damage Assessment, it has been determined that the impact to the individuals and households from this event was not of such severity and magnitude as to warrant the designation of Individual Assistance.

A number of factors are considered to measure the severity, magnitude and impact of the disaster and to evaluate the need for assistance to individuals under the Stafford Act.

•  Amount and type of damage (number of homes destroyed or with major damage)
• Impact on the infrastructure of affected areas or critical facilities
• Imminent threats to public health and safety
• Impacts to essential government services and functions
• Unique capability of Federal government
• Dispersion or concentration of damage
• Level of insurance coverage in place for homeowners and public facilities
• Assistance available from other sources (Federal, State, local, voluntary organizations)
• State and local resource commitments from previous, undeclared events
• Frequency of disaster events over recent time period"

There was more than $33 million in damage across an 18 county region. Oneida and Herkimer counties were two of the hardest-hit areas. Whitesboro was one of the areas hit hardest in Oneida County, as many people who lived there are now homeless.