Press Releases
Nadler Calls for Broader Federal Disaster Declaration for Brooklyn and Manhattan Post-Hurricane Irene
New York, NY,
September 1, 2011
Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) called on President Obama and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to add Kings and New York counties to the list of eligible places within the president’s major disaster declaration after the devastation of Hurricane Irene, as officially requested by the State of New York. Nadler, who joined New York’s congressional delegation yesterday in sending an official request to the president, specifically requested wider federal Individual and Public Assistance for Brooklyn and Manhattan. Federal disaster funds are crucial for home owners, small businesses, and local nonprofits that sustained damage in the wake of the storm. Brooklyn in particular suffered flooding and damage to property and community institutions.
The letter to President Obama follows: August 31, 2011
The Honorable Barack Obama Dear President Obama: We write to thank you for supporting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s expedited request for a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Irene, which made landfall in New York on August 28, 2011. Hurricane Irene has caused destruction to both public and private property throughout the East Coast, and comprehensive assistance is vital in order to allow families and local municipalities to deal with the incurred damage. At least six fatalities are confirmed in New York, flooding has damaged infrastructure and homes, and hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses remain without electricity. Initial estimates put the cost of the damage at over $6 billion along the entire eastern seaboard. New York State’s initial assessment identified 26 counties damaged by Irene. Nearly 5,000 New Yorkers have been evacuated from their homes and remain in shelters. Reports of catastrophic damage to bridges and roads indicate that the federal government’s assistance is necessary. Local governments need assistance to repair roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged or destroyed. Residents and small businesses will need help repairing and rebuilding their homes. Many New Yorkers will not be able to afford repairs without FEMA’s Public and Individual Assistance programs and activation of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide. We ask that you continue to oversee the implementation of a FEMA-led response and recovery plan as quickly as possible. Given the scope of the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene, we appreciate that you approved several of the requested counties for Individual and Public Assistance, and ask that you approve all counties requested by Governor Cuomo. The assistance of FEMA and other federal agencies is urgently needed to prevent further infrastructure damage, ensure public health and safety, restore public utilities and transportation systems, and recover from tremendous public and private property damage. Thank you again for recognizing the serious damage caused by Irene and approving Governor Cuomo’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration. For the residents and communities of New York State, this declaration and subsequent federal assistance are necessary to rebuild from the storm. Sincerely,
Maurice Hinchey
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