Schumer, Gillibrand Applaud FEMA for Issuing First Round of Federal Aid in Wake of Major Disaster Declaration Following December’s Ice Storm

After urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
to issue New York State a major disaster declaration following
December’s ice storm that caused nearly $27 million in damages, U.S.
Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today applaud FEMA for
issuing the first round of emergency disaster aid. In February, Schumer and
Gillibrand wrote a personal letter to acting FEMA Administrator Nancy Ward
urging FEMA to issue a Major Disaster Declaration that would bring additional
aid to the affected counties in Upstate New York to help pay for the damage
from the storm. On March 4^th, FEMA reversed its decision and issued
a major disaster declaration for nine counties in New York. Today, after pushing to secure the
federal aid, Schumer and Gillibrand applaud FEMA for issuing the first round of
major disaster aid for nine counties in NYS.

“This critical assistance is coming just in time for the
counties in the Capital Region and the Hudson Valley
that were severely damaged in last December’s storm,” said Schumer. “These
communities have sustained major damages and had been forced to foot the bill.
I am so glad that I could help secure this first round of federal aid to the
region to help get these counties back on their feet.”

“The Capital Region and Hudson
Valley were hit hard in
December by ice storms. These federal dollars will go a long way to helping the
communities and businesses get back on their feet. New York families are dealing with enough in
this economy, they shouldn’t be left holding the bag after natural disaster
such as this,” said Senator Gillibrand.

A disastrous ice storm hit the Northeast on December 11th,
including multiple counties throughout Upstate New York. Reports indicate that
this was the worst ice storm in over twenty years to hit New York’s Capital Region and led to the
tragic loss of three lives, widespread destruction and property damage. Damages
are estimated to cost a staggering $27 million. At the height of the storm,
nearly 300,000 New York
homes and businesses were without power.

Recognizing the urgency and extent of the damage, Schumer
and Gillibrand pushed for an immediate emergency disaster declaration from then
President George W. Bush and former FEMA-Administrator R. David Paulison for
the counties hit by the storm. Following their push, on December 18, President
Bush issued an emergency declaration for the region which made available
limited direct sources of federal assistance. However, assessments later
revealed the full extent of the damages caused by the storm and many of the
affected local communities still needed federal aid to offset the costs.

After meticulous damage assessments and at-length state
consultations with regional FEMA officials, New York’s Governor David A. Paterson
submitted a request for a major disaster declaration with the understanding
that the request had met all the necessary criteria for approval.  Despite
the comprehensive work and assessments of local, state and federal officials,
FEMA issued an inexplicable denial of federal aid through a major disaster
declaration.

In an effort to help secure a major disaster declaration for
the affected counties, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand wrote a personal letter
in February to FEMA Acting-Administrator Nancy Ward asking for an immediate
reversal of FEMA’s unjustified dismissal of New York’s application.

In March, FEMA reversed its decision and issued a major
disaster declaration for nine of the counties hit by the storm including Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga,
Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington Counties.
Today, FEMA is releasing the first round of this federal Public
Assistance. Public Assistance funds cover emergency protective measures,
emergency services overtime and repair work to infrastructure damaged by the
storm.

Schumer and Gillibrand added, “This funding will bring
necessary and swift relief to communities and local governments struggling to
repair damages caused by the storm.”

The Breakdown of this round of funding is as follows: