Text of Senator Charles Schumer's Letter to Michael D. Brown Undersecretary Federal Emergency Management Agency

Dear Mr. Brown:

I am writing to respectfully urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)to expedite and approve New York State's application for federal emergency funding for the ice storm plaguing the Finger Lakes and Central New York.

As you may know, the National Weather Service has estimated that the ice storm brought accumulations of an inch thick. Hundreds of thousands of residents have lost their power and heat, and hundreds of businesses have had to temporarily close shop. New York State has declared the region a disaster area and expects to apply for FEMA funds shortly. Once the application is in, it is my strong hope that FEMA approves the application and expedites it so that these needy counties can receive as soon as possible all the support for cleaning and recovery that they need.

Utility crews have come from as far away as Maine and Maryland to help with the recovery effort, and Monroe, Wayne and Ontario counties remain in states of emergency. 69,000 RG&E customers are still without power, as are thousands of NYSEG and NiMO customers. The other 10 counties declared states of emergency - Cayuga, Chenango, Livingston, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Orleans, Oswego, Seneca, and Yates - remain in need of significant recovery assistance, as well.

This assistance is particularly vital considering the constant barrage of snow the area has already endured over the last several months. After one of the toughest winters of the last 100 years, where we saw snow fall literally daily in the Finger Lakes and Central New York, this area is going to need federal assistance as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your attention to my request. As always, if I may be of any assistance to you in this matter, please do not hesitate to call.

Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senate