Letter to Administrator Long - Stand Ready To Approve Any Requested Aid for Hudson Valley Residents
Letter
Dear Administrator Long:
We write in strong support of communities in the Hudson Valley region of New York affected by recent severe weather. 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.
On May 15, New York was hit the fatal severe storms and tornados throughout the Hudson Valley. According to the National Weather Service, at least three tornados touches down in the Hudson Valley, along with brutal winds over one hundred and ten 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. In the afternoon of Tuesday, May 15, more than 100,000 Hudson Valley residents had lost power. Tragically, these storms were responsible for multiple deaths, including that of 11 year old child who was helping her mother get groceries out of the car in Newburgh, NY. During these storms and in their aftermath, normal daily activity came 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 and repair critical infrastructure. As communities across the Hudson Valley continue their recovery from this unexpected and unprecedented storm, 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 storms.
Sincerely,
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