Letter to The Honorable W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Letter

Schumer, Gillibrand, Murphy, Tonko, Lee, Hinchey Urge FEMA To Reverse Decision To Deny Public Assistance To Counties Affected By Severe Summer Storms

FEMA Granted Public Assistance to Five Counties Damaged by Storms But Five Others Were Denied

Public Assistance is Needed to Help State and Local Governments Cover Soaring Costs for Emergency Work

Delegation Urges Expeditious Approval of State's Appeal

After the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied aid in the form of Public Assistance (PA) to five counties that were devastated by severe summer storms, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Congressmen Chris Murphy, Paul Tonko, Chris Lee, and Maurice Hinchey today wrote in support of New York State's appeal of FEMA's denial. FEMA granted aid for half of the counties that requested aid after severe storms caused significant damage but denied Public Assistance to Columbia, Delaware, Genesee, Rensselaer and Sullivan counties. Today, the Senators and Congressmen urged FEMA to reverse their decision and approve aid to the remaining five counties.

"The assistance provided to communities in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chenango, Cortland, and Erie counties is a significant first step, but there is no doubt that the remaining counties need aid as well," said Schumer. "After this summer's torrential rains and flooding, FEMA needs to open the aid spigot wider and deliver Public Assistance to Columbia, Delaware, Genesee, Rensselaer, and Sullivan counties immediately."

"Nothing is more important than the safety of all New York families," Senator Gillibrand said. "Families in businesses in these five counties were hit just as hard as others by these summer storms. They need the same federal assistance so they can recover. I will continue working with Senator Schumer, Congressmen Murphy, Tonko, Lee and Hinchey to make sure these counties get the aid they need."

Congressman Scott Murphy said: "New York's communities have been devastated by this year's rain storms and flooding. Federal aid is critical to ensuring these communities are able to rebuild and recover without irreparable long-term damage to their economies. I join with my colleagues today to urge FEMA to reconsider their decision and provide critical assistance to the remaining counties devastated by summer storms."

"This summer's severe storms devastated much of Western New York. The initial federal assistance granted by FEMA is an important first step, but it neglects the need for assistance in several neighboring counties," said Congressman Lee. "I strongly support the appeal of FEMA's denial so we can ensure families and businesses in all affected counties can make a full recovery."

"These five upstate counties and the municipalities within those counties truly need federal assistance to help with the ongoing efforts to recover from this summer's devastating storms," Hinchey said. "The financial hardship facing these communities is unfair and the federal government has a responsibility to step in and offer a helping hand."

This summer, severe storms ravaged communities and infrastructure throughout New York State resulting in the wettest summer in New York in over 135 years. With soil unable to absorb additional rainwater, raging flood waters severely damaged public infrastructure and debilitated municipal resources. Heavy thunderstorms and severe flooding caused widespread damage across the state: overturning foundations, crippling water and wastewater systems, and rendering main thoroughfares impassable.

Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) show that damage costs more than double the nearly $25 million federal threshold for statewide costs to local and state governments. As communities begin to pick up the pieces from the devastating effects of this summer's weather, many of the affected local governments simply cannot bear the financial burden on their own. Federal aid in the form of Public Assistance is needed to help these communities recover.

In an effort to secure aid to the local governments in Columbia, Delaware, Genesee, Rensselaer and Sullivan counties, Senator Schumer along with Senator Gillibrand and Reps. Murphy, Tonko, Lee, and Hinchey wrote to FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate in support of the state's request to reverse the initial decision and immediately deliver Public Assistance to the remaining counties.

If granted Public Assistance, FEMA would provide aid to the local governments for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, "As communities work to address the widespread destruction and property loss left in the wake of this record setting summer, we must ensure that every possible resource is made available to those teams and communities working to recover."

A full copy of the letter is below:

October 1, 2009

The Honorable W. Craig Fugate
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Department of Homeland Security
500 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20472

Dear Administrator Fugate:

Thank you for the aid and assistance that has been provided to communities in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chenango, Cortland, and Erie counties in the aftermath of severe storms that have wreaked havoc across New York State this summer. However, communities across New York are still in need of federal aid to address soaring recovery costs from these storms. We write today in support New York State's appeal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) denial of Public Assistance to Columbia, Delaware, Genesee, Rensselaer and Sullivan counties, and urge expeditious approval of the state's request.

This summer, severe storms have ravaged communities and infrastructure throughout New York State. In fact, this summer represents the wettest summer in New York in over 135 years. With soil unable to absorb additional rainwater, raging flood waters severely damaged public infrastructure and debilitated municipal resources. Heavy thunderstorms and severe flooding caused widespread damage across the state: overturning foundations, crippling water and wastewater systems, and rendering main thoroughfares impassable.

Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) conducted have found damage costs more than double the nearly $25 million federal threshold for statewide costs to local and state governments. Furthermore, based on damage assessments conducted by state and federal emergency personnel, the per-capita expense of damages to these 5 counties greatly exceeds the set federal minimum for assistance. As communities begin to pick up the pieces from the devastating effects of this summer's weather, many of the affected local governments simply cannot bear the financial burden on their own. Federal assistance is needed to help these communities recuperate, and we strongly encourage the swift arrival of Public Assistance for the remaining affected counties.

We therefore support New York State's appeal for Public Assistance for Columbia, Delaware, Genesee, Rensselaer and Sullivan counties to provide federal relief to municipalities. As communities work to address the widespread destruction and property loss left in the wake of this record setting summer, we must ensure that every possible resource is made available to those teams and communities working to recover. Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and please do not hesitate to contact us if we may be of assistance.

Source