Letter to Under Secretary David Paulison, Department of Homeland Security

Letter

Letter to Under Secretary David Paulison, Department of Homeland Security

Schumer, Clinton Ratchet Up Pressure On FEMA To Extend Deadline For Amherst Tree Removal

Despite Granting Erie County Six-Month Extension to Assess Damage From Freak October 2006 Storm, FEMA Continues to Impose Deadlines on Town of Amherst After Long Western New York Winter, Town Needs Summer Months to Adequately Survey Damage - Extension of Deadline Could Preserve Thousands of Local Trees and Save FEMA Millions Schumer, Clinton Make Third Attempt to Have Deadline Extended Through Summer and Fall

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today ratcheted up pressure on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to grant the Town of Amherst an extended deadline for the removal of thousands of trees that suffered damage in the surprise snowstorm of October 2006. Given the nature of Western New York winters, summer months are needed to adequately assess what trees need to be removed and which can be salvaged. Earlier this year, the senators wrote to FEMA explaining that an additional six months was needed, but the town was only granted a 30-day extension. Erie County, however, which has suffered similar damages, was granted an extension until the end of October.

Today, in a personal letter to the DHS Under Secretary David Paulison, the Senators demanded that the same courtesy be extended to the Town of Amherst, stating that in addition to preserving thousands of trees that may very well bloom, this extension has the potential to save FEMA more than $1 million in removal costs.

"When it comes to getting FEMA to do the right thing for Amherst, if at first you don't succeed, try and try again," said Senator Schumer. "Continuing to force Amherst to meet FEMA's early deadlines will not only cause the needless destruction of potentially viable trees, but will also slam taxpayers with an unnecessarily expensive bill. Amherst was hurt enough by the 2006 storms and doesn't need FEMA to add insult to injury by holding the town to these unrealistic and early deadlines. It's time that FEMA responds to the both needs of Amherst and the will of hard-working American taxpayers."

"Following the snowstorms of October 2006 that destroyed much of the lush greenery and beautiful tree cover throughout Western New York, the Town of Amherst took great pains to try and save thousands of trees in the hope that they may still bloom. It is vital that FEMA extend their deadline through October to allow the trees the growing season they need, and the Town the time necessary to make informed decisions. These few additional months could be a major investment in salvaging Amherst's scenic beauty while also saving taxpayers the unnecessary costs of prematurely removing these trees," said Senator Clinton.

The Town of Amherst was initially given an October 2007 deadline to apply for reimbursements, one year following the storm. Senators Schumer and Clinton stepped in and asked for a year deadline, giving the Town another growing season to see whether some of the damaged trees could be salvaged. FEMA granted the town only a six-month extension, and this March the Senators followed up on their request, asking for an additional six months because the difficult Western New York winters make it hard to assess damage. In response, FEMA granted only a 30-day extension, despite giving Erie County, which suffered similar damages, an extension until October 24.

In a third call to FEMA, Schumer and Clinton today sent a letter to DHS Under Secretary Paulison , asking that the same courtesy be extended to the Town of Amherst, stating the need for the summer months to assess which tress can be saved. The Senators also noted this would not only save the town's taxpayers money, but would actually save the federal government as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars on what may otherwise be unnecessary tree removals.

The snowstorm that hit Western New York in October 2006 destroyed entire neighborhoods of trees, leaving local communities to clean up debris caused when the trees collapsed under the weight of the snow. As a result of the removal of thousands of storm damaged trees throughout Western New York, thousands of tree stumps were left in public rights of way, creating a threat to public health and the safety of the community. Following the storm, the Town of Amherst identified 11,000 trees in the region that suffered serious damage and removed 5,000 that posed a public safety hazard. Amherst is now seeking to allow the remaining 6,000 trees an additional growing season to see if those trees can be saved.

A copy of the Senators' letter is pasted below:

June 23, 2008

R. David Paulison
Under Secretary of Homeland Security for
For Emergency Preparedness and Response
Department of Homeland Security

Dear Under Secretary Paulison:

We write today to request that the deadline for reimbursement for the Town of Amherst's removal of damaged trees be extended to October 24, 2008. Amherst officials have been working with great urgency to safely remove damaged trees but considering the long winters western New York has there was not adequate time to complete the task at hand. Long winters mean a short outdoor work season so an extension of FEMA's deadline is needed.

In October 2006, Western New York was dealt a crushing blow when a blizzard wreaked havoc on the region, leaving thousands of trees damaged in its wake, particularly in Buffalo and Amherst. The Town of Amherst, known for its beautiful parks and lushly-planted streets, has removed 5,500 trees thus far, but due to an extended period of winter weather and a constraining timeframe, has not had proper conditions to accurately evaluate the 4,700 damaged trees that remain. In order to assess whether the remaining damaged trees are salvageable, more time must be given to allow the trees to regenerate greenery.

In June of 2007, we urged FEMA to supply the Town of Amherst with a one-year extension of the original October 2007 deadline. The town was granted a six-month extension. However, we wrote to you in March of 2008, explaining that an additional six months were indeed needed due to the nature of the Western New York climate and the amount of time necessary to make prudent decisions regarding the town's treescape. Only a 30 day extension was granted that time as opposed to the full amount of time needed. It is our understanding that Erie County has been granted an extension to October 24th and we ask the same courtesy be extended to Amherst.

We write to you again today, to reiterate our original call on FEMA to extend the deadline to October 24, 2008 in order to allow appropriately studied decisions to be made regarding Amherst's trees, which in effect promises to save the town's taxpayers and the federal government as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars on what may otherwise be unnecessary tree removals.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator

Hillary Rodham Clinton
United States Senator

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