Politics & Government

Rockland Received Almost $11 Million Aid After Sandy

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) announced today that Rockland County received nearly $11 million in FEMA grants since Hurricane Sandy struck one year ago. She and other government officials vowed to continue pushing for additional federal funding for infrastructure improvements to protect Rockland and the region during future natural disasters. 

Rockland’s Public Assistance Grants were made available by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, a bipartisan bill passed by Congress in January that provided $60 billion for response and recovery to aid communities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other areas that suffered from Sandy. Lowey helped lead the bipartisan effort to pass the full assistance package.

Lowey, Senator Charles Schumer and other officials spoke today at a press conference at White Plains Recycling Facility, where debris was stored, processed and disposed in Sandy’s aftermath.

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Lowey had pushed to get Rockland and Westchester counties added to the federal government’s “Major Disaster Declaration.”

“Federal assistance has been absolutely essential in helping communities across the Lower Hudson Valley get back on their feet,” she said. “Federal aid has also helped protect local taxpayers who would otherwise be on the hook for recovery costs.”

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Schumer spoke about additional aid coming to the state.

“Westchester and Rockland Counties have been reimbursed by FEMA for a great deal of their cleanup work, but there is much more to come now that all the recovery programs are up and running,” said Schumer. “New Yorkers will see an estimated $6.3 billion in aid next year, which is enough to rebuild almost every house and create a community that is much stronger than before.”

Lowey presented a proclamation to United Way of Westchester and Rockland in recognition of the assistance it provided the community in Sandy’s aftermath. Its 2-1-1 helpline was activated to support the federal, state and local governments in disaster response and recovery. The helpline handled nearly 178,000 requests regarding food, power restoration, shelter, damage reimbursement, and clean up assistance.

“When you look at how much was accomplished in a year that included such a life-changing disaster, you realize how impactful our mission work is to the entire community,” said Naomi Adler, CEO and president of United Way of Westchester and Putnam Counties and a Nanuet resident. “Hundreds of volunteers, partner nonprofits, government workers, and businesses stepped forward to help with us this year and we owe them a big ‘thank you’.”

Lowey said she continues to push for communities Rockland County to receive their share of disaster recovery assistance funds through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 


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