Letter to Acting FEMA Administrator Robert Fenton - In Support of the Village of Herkimer's Request for Swift Approval of the Scope of Work Change for the Village Storm Drainage Contract
Letter
I write in support of the Village of Herkimer's request for swift approval of the scope of work change for the Village Storm Drainage Contract as outlined under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Project Worksheet #616 (DR-41298NY). Herkimer is awaiting final approval for over $480,000 in funding to repair and increase the resiliency of its storm drainage systems on Marginal Road and North Bellinger Street, an area that experienced significant damage due to flooding and storms in the summer of 2013.
In June and July of 2013, flooding rains and storms submerged the streets of Herkimer, causing failure at their Marginal Road and North Bellinger Street storm drains. As a result, the St. Francis Church and School and Mid-Town Apartments needed over $2 million in repairs and residential flooding along North Belllinger Street required another $1 million. In total, the Village recorded over $6 million in damages in the Bellinger Street area and the lack of repairs to the drainage system is continuing to cause flooding to in the area.
The Village began working with FEMA and New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYSDHSES) in 2013 to utilize federal funding to help pay for these flood event damages. It has worked diligently over the past several years to comply with multiple requests to amend its application so that FEMA would approve and agree to reimburse the project costs, and with adjusted scope and cost estimates submitted, all that is needed is FEMA's approval for the storm drain repairs to commence.
It will be four years this June since the flooding rains and storm took place. Residents and businesses have been extremely patient in waiting for necessary repair work and the village remains vulnerable to further damage should another storm occur. Given the importance of this project, I ask that you promptly review the application and approve the scope of work change to free up the necessary funding that will enable the Village of Herkimer to fully recover from the destructive storms of 2013.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this important request. I look forward to hearing from you.
Source