Credit: © John Meore/The Journal News via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Syndication: Westchester County Journal News
NEW YORK (77WABC) — Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that President Biden has approved an Emergency Disaster Declaration for New York following the devastation caused by Tropical Depression Ida and its unprecedented, historic rainfall.
“As Downstate areas recover from this extreme weather event, I have requested and secured an Emergency Disaster Declaration from the federal government that will help provide localities with funding and relief in the initial restoration efforts,” Hochul said in a press release. “I will continue to urge the federal government to expedite the damage assessment process to provide all the federal resources available to ensure New Yorkers get what they need to recover from this historic storm.”
NEW: Following my request, @POTUS has approved an Emergency Disaster Declaration for 14 counties impacted by Ida.
This declaration unlocks critical federal funds, and I will continue to fight for any and all resources to help New Yorkers in need.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 3, 2021
Under an Emergency Declaration, up to $5 million in immediate federal funding is made available to impacted counties to support ongoing response and rescue operations prior to issuance of a traditional Major Disaster Declaration. The counties covered by the declaration include: Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester.
Governor Hochul also announced that at her request, FEMA will work with the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, as well as local partners to begin an expedited damage assessment process, which is required for a Major Disaster Declaration, on September 3. At Hochul’s direction, State agencies’ emergency response assets are on the ground helping local partners with cleanup and restoration efforts.
“We are committed to providing all the necessary resources for New Yorkers to recover from the historic, devastating flooding, and I have directed all State agencies on the ground to continue to help these impacted areas with cleanup missions,” Hochul added.
