One Year After Irene, Schumer Reveals Four Critical Middletown Recovery Projects Stopped at One-Yard Line - Calls on FEMA to Get Funds Out the Door and Into City's Coffers for Projects, to Ensure Safety of Local Residents

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to expedite funding of four approved, but still under final review, infrastructure repair projects for Middletown -- a full year after the town was devastated by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. FEMA'S funding of these four projects would allow Middletown to remove debris from the Monhagen drainage way, install 160 feet of gabion baskets to reduce erosion, and construct two box culverts near Monhagen Brook. Middletown is still waiting on funding for these four projects. Additionally, Schumer called on FEMA to swiftly review five other project worksheets for Middletown repairs in the wake of Irene and Lee that, along with the four approved projects, total $6,874,031 for the town's reconstruction efforts.

"FEMA cannot keep vital repairs efforts for Middletown's infrastructure left out to dry a full year after Tropical Storms Irene and Lee flooded the area," said Schumer. "Middletown cannot afford to wait another day to receive FEMA's funding for the four approved projects. FEMA must obligate these project worksheets immediately because too much is at stake in terms of the safety of residents, the cost to taxpayers, and the future of city infrastructure if more flooding strikes. Every day that FEMA sends mixed messages or spends debating payment and projects is another day that Middletown neighborhoods are left exposed to flooding. If we don't fix these soon, the next rain storm could set the flood recovery back months, and deal a devastating blow to homes and businesses. We can't let that happen -- FEMA needs to step up to the plate, fulfill its duty, and help these communities come back to pre-disaster conditions."

Schumer emphasized that FEMA's expedited release of promised funds would allow Middletown to commence and complete four vital projects to repair damages near Monhagen Brook. First, Middletown could dredge 1,062 cubic yards of materials in order to restore the Monhagen Drainage way to pre-storm function. The town will also install 570 linear feet of 8'x12' box culvert. Lastly, Middletown will replace 160 feet of gabion baskets, and replace 263 feet of 8'x13' box culvert. These four projects, along with five more that FEMA has yet to approve, will finally help Middletown get on the road to recovery one year after the tropical storms.

In May, Schumer hosted a meeting in his Washington D.C. office with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and the City of Middletown Mayor Joe DeStefano in order to ensure that FEMA lives up to its obligations in obligating the funding for the city for approximately $7 million worth of infrastructure repairs, which must be fixed to avoid risk of further flooding. Eight months after last fall's floods, numerous repairs to culverts, retaining walls, flood diversion walls and underground pillars, and projects including County Route 78 and North Aspen Drive, have yet to be completed. The incomplete projects have city officials concerned that a serious rainstorm could result in flooding in several neighborhoods in Middletown. As a result, Schumer and Middletown Mayor DeStefano are urging FEMA Administrator Fugate to end the delays that have left Middletown residents in a lurch, waiting for the final word on which projects FEMA will fund and when the work will be completed.

"The City of Middletown eagerly awaits final approval from FEMA," said Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano. "One year after the storm, the city and its residents desperately need this funding to make repairs to critical public infrastructure. Senator Schumer has been fighting for the City of Middletown since day one, including coordinating a meeting with the FEMA director and the city. The city has done everything on our end to finalize the funding and we thank Senator Schumer for fighting to finalize this important funding."

Following the devastating storms last year, the city of Middletown has done everything asked of them by FEMA to ensure delivery of public assistance disaster funding to cover eligible damages caused by the storms. The city has hired expert independent engineers, planners, and assessors to submit all the necessary paperwork required by FEMA and chart a course forward. After FEMA sent a team to Middletown to assess the damage on the ground and work with the city, FEMA pulled this team and sent a new team resulting in a loss of invaluable time and planning. The city continued to act in good faith and complete tasks given to them by FEMA, but is still waiting for obligated funding to repair damage to critical infrastructure including DPW facilities, roads, culverts, retaining walls and key storm water systems. The city could wait no longer and was forced to tap into other budgeted projects to minimize public safety risks caused by these delays. The city does not have the financial resources necessary to complete these projects on their own and FEMA must step in to help the city of Middletown and taxpayers recover from this storm.

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