This morning Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the request of President Barack Obama, has agreed to reimburse New York City and State for the full cost of emergency public transportation and restoring power to the region for the time period between October 30th and November 9th. These costs include things like repairing substations, power plants and power lines, and providing extra buses and overtime for the drivers. Schumer and Gillibrand are urging FEMA to fully reimburse the state and city for all costs associated with the storm to the fullest extent allowed by law. Under law, FEMA is required to pay 75% of certain damages, but can, in the case of major disasters reimburse as much as 90% or 100%.
“This is a good first step on FEMA’s part, and an indication that they know how serious the damage from the storm is,” said Schumer. “This was not a New York disaster, or a New Jersey disaster or a Connecticut disaster, but a national disaster, and FEMA and the federal government should be providing help to the region to the full extent they can. I will continue to push the feds to reimburse the city and state for the full costs of repair and recovery for all aspects of the disaster.”
“I thank FEMA for stepping up and fully covering emergency public transportation and power costs to New York,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This was one of the worst storms we have ever experienced and I will continue the push to secure the maximum federal funding our families need to recover and rebuild.”