Photo Courtesy of Sen. Schumer
“[W]e strongly urge you to approve any forthcoming requests for FEMA assistance from New York State with all due speed as affected communities begin their recovery from these storms,” Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Sen. Gillibrand wrote in a joint letter to FEMA Administrator Criswell.
By Michael V. Cusenza
President Joe Biden on Sunday declared that a major disaster exists in the State of New York and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida from Sept. 1 to Sept. 3, 2021.
The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, and Westchester.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding also is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in the counties of Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, and Westchester.
Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Lai Sun Yee as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
“I am deeply grateful that President Biden has granted a Major Disaster Declaration for New York State in the wake of Hurricane Ida,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said Monday. “I, along with members of the New York congressional delegation and Governor Hochul, requested this crucial measure, which will deliver federal funds that will help New York families and communities recover from the significant damages caused by flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. I look forward to joining President Biden in Queens tomorrow to see the hard work that must be done to recover and rebuild and I will continue working with him to lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient future.”
In the evening on Sept. 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency in New York State within the counties of Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester in response to major flooding due to Hurricane Ida.
“As New York begins to recover from this storm, we are once again reminded and deeply appreciative of the prompt attention that the federal government has historically given when responding to disaster impacting New York State,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gillibrand wrote in a joint letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “In that spirit, we strongly urge you to approve any forthcoming requests for FEMA assistance from New York State with all due speed as affected communities begin their recovery from these storms.”
