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Early Friday morning, officials with the Town of Richmond noticed ice jamming in Mill Creek. Because the ice cannot be broken up without a DEC permit, an officer was called to see the problem for himself.

By the time the permit was granted, John Chrisman's insurance agency was flooded up to the outdoor windows. Damage is estimated at $10,000 to $20,000.

Chrisman does not have flood insurance. He says if the DEC acted faster, the business could have been saved.

"Trying to get permits through the DEC is almost futile," said Chrisman. "We're always working with our hands tied behind our backs, so knowing that there's things that could've been done to prevent this is very frustrating as a business owner and a taxpayer."

Chrisman's neighbors have come to his aid by helping to get water out of the building. He hopes to be open in some capacity by Monday.

Town officials hope to work with the DEC to prevent something like this in the future.

YNN has contacted the DEC, but we have not yet heard back from them.