With West Point Not Included In Potential FEMA Aid As A Federal Military Installation, Reps Calling On USACE To Immediately Increase Resources For Cleanup And To Get Boots On The Ground To Quickly Restore & Rebuild Ravaged Historic Army Academy
Record Setting Rainfall And Flooding Ravaged West Point And Hudson Valley Devastating Historic USMA Buildings, Flooding Classrooms, Cadet Barracks & Housing And Damaging Infrastructure
Schumer, Gillibrand, Ryan To USACE: We Need All Hands On Deck To Raise West Point From The Waters Of This Once In A Generation Flood So This Pillar Of America’s Army Can Stand Tall Once Again
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and West Point alum Congressman Pat Ryan today called on the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Lieutenant General Spellmon to immediately deploy all available resources and boots on the ground to accelerate recovery efforts at the United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA), and the surrounding community, in the wake of the once in a generation flooding earlier this week. West Point, as a federal military installation, would not be included in potential aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the “duplication of benefits” restrictions in Section 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), P.L. 93-288. Thus the representatives said USMA needs the USACE to quickly work to determine the extent of the damage to the historic academy and get the base the resources it desperately needs to rebuild from this once in a thousand year storm and get on the road to recovery.
“For more than two centuries, West Point has stood in the Hudson Valley as an indispensable pillar of our nation’s military; we cannot allow its buildings and training grounds to sit destroyed in the wake of this once in a generation flood,” said Senator Schumer. “The historic buildings of West Point are a symbol of our country’s proud military history, but right now West Point needs our help. It needs the resources, engineers, and boots on the ground to both survey the damage, likely totaling in the millions, and get on the road to recovery. As majority leader, I am committed to getting all the resources West Point needs to cleanup and build back stronger, and that starts with USACE doubling down on its efforts to help America’s Army home in the Hudson Valley rise from the water to stand proud once again.”
“For generations, the historic buildings and training facilities at West Point have represented our nation’s proud military history and have prepared cadets to protect the United States. It is vital that we do all we can to protect this historic and treasured institution. I will continue to work with Senator Schumer and Congressman Ryan to ensure that West Point and the surrounding community receive all available resources to accelerate the recovery process,” said Senator Gillibrand.
“West Point is more than just the United States Military Academy – it is one of the largest employers in the Hudson Valley and an American institution of unparalleled significance. We need to get boots on the ground immediately to assess the damage and start the rebuilding process,” said Congressman Ryan. “West Point sits at a key intersection of Routes 6, 9W, and NY 218, making this effort crucial not just to our cadets, but for the district as a whole. I will keep fighting to get them the resources they deserve.”
Schumer, Gillibrand, and Ryan said that the historic buildings of West Point are a symbol of our country’s proud military history and that prompt action is paramount to mitigate the adverse effects of this disaster on the well-being of the West Point community. Over the past 2 days, West Point experienced an estimated 10 inches of rainfall on Sunday – nearly the amount that typically falls over an entire summer – which resulted in catastrophic flash flooding, roadway washout, sinkholes, and other significant infrastructure impacts at the military academy and throughout the surrounding area. On Monday, the only passable route to West Point, which was restricted to mission-essential personnel only, was via NYS Thruway 87 to Route 6 to Route 293 and then through Stony Lonesome Gate. Both Route 9W and Route 6 are severely damaged, and a portion of NY 218 has collapsed to the West of the Installation. Academic buildings, portions of the Cadet barracks, and privatized family housing have experience flooding. Many of the buildings on campus are historic, reflecting West Point’s more than two hundred year history of military excellence. Stony Lonesome Gate was a vantage point for Revolutionary war soldiers stationed at the steep outpost; now a gate to West Point, the exit lane has washed away, bringing the access point down to one lane. West Point is currently operating at condition code red, with only key and essential employees reporting for duty.
Yesterday, the representatives urged FEMA to stand ready to approve any request from New York State for a major disaster declaration to help impacted communities in the Hudson Valley and Upstate NY receive critical federal assistance to boost their recover. If a disaster declaration is declared, grant assistance would be made available to state and local governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations, to reimburse costs incurred for emergency work and the repair or replacement of damaged facilities. However, Stafford Act duplication of benefits provisions prevent federally owned property that is under the jurisdiction of other federal agencies from receiving disaster aid from FEMA if the president has not delegated disaster relief authority to FEMA. Because USMA falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense (DOD), they have the primary authority to provide assistance and the State of New York is not eligible to allocate aid received from FEMA to the military school.
In a letter to USACE Lieutenant General Spellmon, Schumer, Gillibrand and Ryan are now calling on the Army Corps to provide immediate assistance to West Point and ensure the safety of the surrounding community in the aftermath of the devastating flash floods that struck Orange County, New York this past Sunday. With the severe damage that the academy has sustained, they said USACE leaders must swiftly advance any and all necessary personnel, equipment, and other resources needed to assess the damage and begin immediate repairs. Army Operations and Maintenance, through Army Installation Management Command, would likely be the primary source of funding once repair estimates are finalized, and the Army Corps of Engineers programs such as Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, can be used for damaged levees, floodwalls, and similar eligible community infrastructure.
The lawmakers are also urging the Army Corps to inspect and provide a comprehensive damage report on the safety and stability of dams, levees, roads, bridges, docks, and other critical infrastructure in the community to ensure continued public safety as recovery begins and requested an update on the financial resources needed to complete repairs to the campus infrastructure, as well as the historic buildings that have been damaged by water intrusion.
Schumer and Ryan have a long history of delivering for West Point. Just a few months ago, after sounding the alarm on budget shortfalls that beleaguered the West Point Fire Department, Schumer and Ryan secured a massive $1.8 million budget increase for the West Point firefighter to purchase desperately needed new emergency response equipment. This equipment replaced aging supplies that put the firefighters’ safety at risk, including new dry suits which were used over the past few days for water rescues at a nearby nursing home by the West Point firefighters during the recent flooding.
A copy of Schumer, Gillibrand, and Ryan’s letter appears below:
Dear Lieutenant General Spellmon:
We write to request your immediate assistance to thoroughly assess and repair the damage to the United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA) and ensure the safety of the surrounding community in the aftermath of the devastating flash floods that struck Orange County, New York, on July 9, 2023. We commend USACE NY District for their swift response, already on-scene assessing the damage to USMA, caused by this historic flooding event, and we urge you at headquarters to swiftly advance any and all necessary personnel, equipment, and other resources needed to assess the infrastructure and begin immediate repairs. The scale and impact of this unprecedented “once in a thousand year” flooding event have caused extensive damage to West Point’s and the community’s infrastructure, posing significant challenges to accessibility and functionality of this centerpiece of America’s military training and preparedness.
The torrential rainfall and flash floods have blocked nearly all access points to West Point campus, with road washouts, fallen trees, and sinkholes on 9W, Route 6, and NY 218, leaving only one functional route, NYS Thruway 87 to Route 6 to Route 293. This restricted accessibility not only impedes the operations of West Point but also poses a risk to the safety and operations of the surrounding community.
An initial assessment of the damages reveals a range of formidable challenges. These include collapsed sections of NY 218, extensive interior flooding in barracks, housing, and academic buildings, substantial property damage, failed retaining walls, utility disruptions, and hazardous mudslides.
In addition to the assessment of the West Point installation, we are gratified by the work USACE has done to inspect nearby dams which could have been potentially impacted during the historic storm, and urge them to inspect and provide a comprehensive damage report on the safety and stability of roads, bridges, docks, and other critical infrastructure in the community to ensure continued public safety as recovery begins. These assessments are critical for the long term recovery strategy of the community, providing a robust blueprint for repairs, restoration, and proactive measures against future flooding events. We also request an update on the financial resources needed to complete repairs to the campus infrastructure, as well as the historic buildings that have been damaged by water intrusion. We are committed will push to getting USACE and the Army the resources required to rebuild West Point.
It is imperative that USACE utilize all existing authorities such as the Flood Control and Coastal Emergency’s P.L. 84-99 program, or the Operations & Maintenance, and Construction accounts quickly, and thoroughly complete a comprehensive assessment of damage to the military academy and surrounding area, and make plans to repair the damage.
For more than two centuries, West Point has stood as an indispensable pillar of our nation’s military; we cannot allow its classrooms and roadways to remain underwater. In particular, the historic buildings of West Point are a symbol of our country’s proud military history. We cannot let them be destroyed by flooding. Prompt action is paramount to mitigate the adverse effects of this disaster on the well-being of the West Point community, enable the timely restoration of infrastructure, and safeguard our nation’s military readiness capabilities.
We thank USACE NY District for their swift deployment on the ground at West Point and in the community and once again urge headquarters to advance all necessary resources to the Installation and the surrounding community. Your immediate attention and expeditious action on this matter is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,