Schumer Urges Local Governments And NYS Agencies To Apply For FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Aid

Schumer Urges Local Governments And NYS Agencies To Apply For FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Aid

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged New York State agencies, local and tribal governments and public colleges and universities to apply now for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Aid. Under this program, eligible applicants can receive funding for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of projects that reduces the overall risks to people and infrastructure, prior to a disaster. By taking preventative action, these projects will reduce reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations. The first step of the application, the letter of intent, must be received by the State Emergency Management Organization (SEMO) by December 8.

"From the massive floods this summer to the early snowstorms this fall, natural disasters have caused serious damage throughout New York State this year," Schumer said. "Everyone should apply for this funding, so that our communities are not left waiting for federal aid after a disaster has hit and the damage is done. With the proper planning and mitigation, our communities can prepare for these disasters before they strike and reduce the damage that occurs in their wake."

PDM aid can be used to fund hazard mitigation plans or projects to protect either public or private property. Eligible projects include but are not limited to: developing State, local or tribal hazard mitigation plans; constructing certain types of minor and localized flood control projects to protect critical facilities; retrofitting structures to protect them from floods, high winds, or other natural hazards; and constructing safe rooms inside schools or other buildings in natural disaster-prone areas.

Applicants may obtain applications online from the State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) at http://www.semo.state.ny.us. All eligible applicants who are interested must submit their letters of intent to SEMO by December 8. The State will then review all letters to decide who will proceed with the FEMA PDM application. The state will compile all completed applications for eligible applicants and send them on to FEMA for final consideration. FEMA will fund up to 75% of the project costs however, small and impoverished communities may be eligible for up to 90% of the cost.

Throughout the summer and fall months, Schumer has led the fight to get FEMA funding to the communities in upstate New York who suffered damage from the floods. Days after New York's Hudson Valley, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley suffered severe flooding throughout the summer, Schumer toured much of the devastated regions, and pushed for aid from FEMA, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Small Business Administration, and the Department of Transportation. On June 30, Schumer visited Binghamton, Livingston Manor and Canajoharie, and on July 7 he went to Herkimer. In July, Schumer was able to get FEMA to send temporary living trailers to areas affected by the floods. After early snowstorms this fall, Schumer pushed for FEMA aid and successfully urged FEMA to lift the $5 million cap on federal resources. Parts of the Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley were flooded again last month. Schumer has urged the President and FEMA to issue a Major Disaster Declaration to expedite federal aid for Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego and Tioga Counties, following the November floods. Schumer visited Sidney on November 22 to discuss flood mitigation.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=266229&&year=2006&