Recently, we marked six months since Superstorm Sandy struck Long Island, damaging nearly sixty thousand homes and leaving billions of dollars in destruction in its wake. Long Island’s Congressional delegation and our local-elected counterparts worked quickly to begin the recovery process that continues today.
My office has been an important part of this process by helping hundreds of home and small business owners access the storm relief funding they deserve from FEMA or their insurance companies. I also fought hard for the level of federal assistance Long Island needs to rebuild more resilient shorefront homes and businesses while better protecting our communities from the effects of future storms.
New York State's plan to distribute $1.7 billion in federal community development aid for Long Island was approved last Friday, marking an important milestone in this ongoing process. Approximately half of the funding will be used to raise and rebuild storm-damaged homes, with about a quarter devoted to helping small businesses and bolstering our local economy, and another quarter to implement long-term storm resiliency plans.
I am also pleased to announce that in response to my request, Eastern Suffolk homeowners and business owners affected by Sandy will be provided expert assistance with applying for federal recovery funding on Tuesday, May 7 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at a temporary center located at the Rogers Memorial Library, 91 Coopers Farm Road in Southampton.
Yesterday, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced that New York will receive federal funding of $340 million for improvements to wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities damaged in the storm.
Here are some other examples of how federal aid has been delivered to those affected by Sandy in the past six months:
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has obligated more than $1 billion to support state and local rebuilding efforts. It has also disbursed more the $1.3 billion directly to impacted families, covering eligible repair costs and meeting temporary housing needs.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration has also provided more than $2 billion in disaster loans to homeowners and small businesses.
- The Federal Transit Administration’s Emergency Relief Program has allocated $2 billion in funding and the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program has allocated $584 million to repair and rebuild damaged infrastructure.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has allocated $474 million in Social Services Block Grants to help provide services to survivors and rebuild damaged health care facilities.
Superstorm Sandy will always be remembered for its impact on our communities, but tough times can bring out the best in us. By pulling together to help each other, we will rebuild a stronger Long Island. If you or someone you know needs help accessing aid to recover from damage caused by Sandy, please contact my district office in Patchogue at 631-289-6500 and we will start working on your behalf immediately.
