Letter to Administrator Long - Stand Ready to Quickly Approve Disaster Declaration for Hudson Valley Counties Impacted by Winter Storms Riley and Quinn
Letter
Dear Administrator Long:
We write in strong support of communities in the Hudson Valley region of New York affected by two consecutive severe winter storms this week. We urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to stand ready to work with affected counties and New York State, if requested, to determine whether damage meets the statutory threshold for FEMA disaster assistance, and if it does, to make assistance available as expeditiously as possible. We also encourage FEMA to consider the impacts from both storms together if the state makes any requests for federal assistance.
On March 2, New York was hit by a fatal winter storm, Riley; some areas of the state saw more than three feet of snow, along with brutal winds approaching nearly sixty miles per hour. Hurricane-force gusts grounded flights up and down the Northeast corridor and knocked down countless trees and power lines throughout the Hudson Valley region. On the night of Friday, March 2, more than 323,00 New Yorkers had lost power. Just days later, on March 7, the region was pummeled by another strong winter storm, Quinn, which resulted in blizzard-like conditions and knocked out power for more than a hundred thousand additional customers. Tragically, these storms were responsible for multiple deaths. During these storms and in their aftermath, normal daily activity has come to a standstill, with dozens of school districts closed for days, business and government offices shuttered, and local crews working around the clock to clear roadways. As communities across the Hudson Valley dig out and begin their recovery from the second severe winter storm in less than a week, we urge FEMA to stand ready to participate in a Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) with state and local officials, should the state request it.
We are grateful for the prompt attention that the federal government has historically given in responding to disasters impacting New York State. In that spirit, we strongly urge you to approve any forthcoming requests for FEMA assistance from New York State as affected communities begin their recovery from these severe winter storms.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
Kirsten Gillibrand
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