U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Orange County public assistance to help rebuild and repair infrastructure damaged by tropical storm Lee. After this type of assistance was not made available in the President’s initial emergency declaration, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand immediately called for Orange County to be added to the list of eligible counties. The county is now eligible for assistance for debris removal, emergency protective actions, and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Schumer and Gillibrand noted that this was another important step in making sure that Orange County gets the help they needs to recover from Lee, and will continue to push for Orange County to receive Individual Assistance to help home and business owners recover.
“We knew all along that Orange County needed help to cope with the devastation left by tropical storm Lee,” said Schumer. “Now that FEMA has heeded our call and stepped up to the plate to make the necessary funding available, we can begin the process of helping repair and rebuild local infrastructure damaged in the storm. I will continue to push for FEMA to grant individual assistance to help home and business owners rebuild as well.”
“This is great news for families and businesses in Orange County in dire need of help to dig out from this devastating storm, and begin to recover,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Now it’s time to put all necessary resources on the ground where we need them to bring relief. I will fight to secure all the federal funding our communities need.”
Through the PA Program, FEMA provides supplemental Federal disaster grant assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain Private Non-Profit (PNP) organizations. The PA Program also encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures during the recovery process.