Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2012

SCHUMER TOURS FLOOD DAMAGE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY & LAUNCHES PUSH TO EXPAND MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION FOR COUNTY TO INCLUDE ALL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

Schumer Assesses the Damage in Westchester Co. From Sandy – Pushes FEMA to Include All Levels of Public Assistance For Repairs to Roads, Bridges, Parks, Water Facilities & More

Today Westchester & Rockland Counties Received Major Disaster Declarations & Are Now Eligible for Individual Assistance, Certain Levels of Public Assistance for Debris Removal & Emergency Services

Schumer Was Briefed By County Executive Astorino, Congresswoman Lowey, Congressman Engel on Local Needs as He Toured Westchester

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer visited Westchester County to get a firsthand look at the damage and devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, and to launch his push for the federal government to expand its disaster support for the region. His visit to Westchester County came the day after Senators Schumer and Gillibrand petitioned the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve New York State’s request and issue a major disaster declaration that includes both assistance for individuals and public entities for Westchester and Rockland Counties, in light of the severe flooding, damage to business, homes and municipal facilities, and significant and continuing threats to life and safety in the region. That petition was partially approved today, but other vital categories of relief are not yet approved for Westchester, as well as all other counties in the federal disaster declaration.

“It is critical that the federal government commit to helping individuals and local governments in Westchester pave the road to recovery as soon as possible,” said Schumer. “I am pleased to announce today that FEMA has heeded our calls to include Westchester and Rockland Counties in the existing major disaster declaration, but I am also urging FEMA to make these and all other New York counties on the emergency declaration eligible for all categories of Public Assistance funding, so that repairs for roads, bridges, parks, water facilities and more will be supported, and the full rebuilding process can begin immediately.”

Schumer was joined by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Congressman Elliot Engel for the visit. Schumer is pushing for full Public Assistance, Categories C – G, to be included in the disaster declaration in addition to Public Assistance Categories A and B. Those categories are as follows: Category C: Roads and Bridges, Category D: Water Control Facilities, Category E: Buildings and Equipment, Category F: Utilities, Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities, and Other Items.

Westchester has been hit particularly hard by Hurricane Sandy. Three individuals from Westchester County were killed as a result of the storm. In addition, communities like Yonkers, Rye, Port Chester, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle and other Sound Shore communities have experienced massive damage. In Westchester County, there are about 200,000 Con Edison and NYSEG customers without power and tens of thousands of Rockland residents have also lost power. A significant percentage of the individual communities have gone without power since the storm hit on Monday evening. Throughout Westchester, hundreds of roads had to be closed due to downed trees and power lines, many schools are closed for a full week. Westchester also has had to suffer through downed trees, infrastructure damage, road, bridge and drainage problems throughout the region.

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