U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, and Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder today announced $1,861,901.33 in federal funds for the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) in support of major Sandy-related repairs at P.S. 207 Rockwood Park. This funding will reimburse 90% of the cost of repairs undertaken throughout the building.
“This infusion of federal money is helping P.S. 207 Rockwood Park put the damaging effects of Hurricane Sandy in the rear-view mirror and enabling the school to get back to educating New York City’s children without crushing back-bills,” said Schumer. “P.S. 207 was hit very hard by the hurricane and this grant goes a long way towards helping the school and the city defray the costs of repairs.”
“This critical funding will go towards repairing P.S. 207 Rockwood Park which suffered damaged by Superstorm Sandy,” said Gillibrand. “Federal investment will give our schools the tools they need to rebuild and help our children displaced by the storm return to normalcy as quickly as possible.”
“This new funding will enormously help P.S. 207 in Howard Beach rebuild and ensure our children receive the quality education they deserve,” said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach). “It’s been over a year since Sandy tore apart our schools in southern Queens and while we have all made significant progress there is still work to be done. I commend Senator Schumer and Gillibrand for staying on the forefronts of Sandy relief and I will continue to work with them until all our Sandy-devastated schools and homes make a full recovery.”
The grant, which comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awards $1,861,901.33 in federal funds to the New York City School Construction Authority for emergency repairs undertaken at P.S. 207 Rockwood Park School in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The Rockwood Park School, which has served Howard Beach students since 1965, sustained over $2 million in damage during the hurricane. Most of the damage took place in the school’s basement when 12 feet of flood waters rushed in and flooded the cellar in its entirety.
As a result of flood water inundation, a fuel oil tank rolled and spilled an estimated 3,000 gallons of #6 oil throughout the basement. Flood waters also damaged the two boilers located in the basement, as well as the electrical panels, lights, ductwork, and fire alarm system. This left the school without electricity, heat and water, which meant P.S. 207 was unable to reopen until the repairs were made. The total volume of water and oil/water mix removed from within the school was estimated at approximately 84,475 gallons. Flood waters also reached the lower auditorium located on the school’s first floor.
In September of this year, Schumer and Goldfeder also announced $5,277,661 in federal FEMA funding for the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA). That grant money went to support repair work at various public schools throughout Queens that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy, including P.S. 43Q The School by the Sea, Q816 Temple Beth Elementary School (PS 256 Annex) and Goldie Maple Academy/PS 198Q.