New York, NY – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,512,748 of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding for Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), which will reimburse the cost of personnel and equipment used to help clear debris throughout city streets in order to allow vehicles to access roadways and respond to emergencies.
“New York City firefighters put their lives on the line to protect New Yorkers during Superstorm Sandy and they deserve our heartfelt thanks and support,” said Schumer. “ This federal reimbursement for debris cleanup is critical in making sure that New Yorkers are not entirely on the hook for these expenses and I am pleased that this funding is being provided.”
“Our city firefighters were on the front lines before, during and after the storm to stand by their fellow New Yorkers, keeping residents out of harm’s way and risking their own lives to save others,” said Gillibrand. “This critical funding is an important step as we continue to meet New York City’s needs to recover and rebuild.”
Superstorm Sandy brought strong winds and heavy rains to the New York tri-state area, resulting in downed trees, power lines and broken tree limbs. Officials estimated that the storm created more than 10 million cubic yards of debris. In New York City alone, that has meant cleaning up nearly 1.45 million cubic yards of debris in just over a month.
FEMA has awarded FDNY over $2.5 million for the use of force account personnel and equipment for debris clearance to allow access to blocked streets for the access of emergency vehicles in the aftermath of the storm.