July 13, 2010

RIVERHEAD, NY -- On Saturday, Congressman Tim Bishop announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reversed its decision to deny federal aid for the March 29-30 storm that devastated areas of Suffolk County, clearing a path for more than $6 million in additional federal aid to reimburse local government agencies for their response to erosion and flooding.

“I made a promise to Horton Avenue that I will do everything I can to get them help.  When I learned of FEMA’s initial denial, I immediately picked up the phone to the White House to demand a meeting with FEMA.  When I met with FEMA, I informed them that I was not prepared to take no for an answer. We found a way to get to yes," Congressman Bishop said Saturday at Riverhead Town Hall, where he was joined by state and local officials and residents of Horton Avenue, an area of Riverhead severely impacted by the storm.  Among the officials were Assemblyman Marc Alessi, Kristen Walsh, Long Island Director for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Suffolk County Deputy County Executive Christopher Kent, Riverhead Town Councilmembers George Gabrielsen, Jodi Giglio and James Wooten and Riverhead Superintendent of Highways George “Gio” Woodson.

In June, Bishop met with top FEMA and New York State Emergency Management Office (NY SEMO) officials in Washington, D.C. to facilitate New York’s appeal.

"It is important to note that every level of government has been on the same page, working for a solution.  All too often, we hear about government at its worst.  This effort has been government at its best, officials at all levels working together to fight for the interests of the community," said Congressman Bishop.

Based on preliminary information, municipalities throughout Suffolk County submitted claims for Public Assistance of $6.6 million, though that amount will climb far higher when all the claims are finally submitted.  For example, the Town of Shelter Island initially submitted $20,600 in claims, but has already spent more than $150,000 on pumping.  The initial figures also do not contain any claims from the Towns of Brookhaven and Smithtown, even though both municipalities have had significant flooding and erosion issues.

In addition to providing funds to reimburse municipalities and relieve Suffolk County taxpayers, FEMA's decision increases an existing pool of $15 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds which can be used to help municipalities take pre-emptive measures to mitigate future disasters, including elevating homes, filling in basements or possibly buying out homeowners in extremely impacted areas like Horton Avenue.  The mitigation grants will need to be submitted by the Town or County through the State.  Though Assemblyman Marc Alessi noted, “I will personally drive the grant application up to Albany myself and hand it to the Governor.”

“This is an important step, but there is a still more work we need to do to allow Horton Avenue residents to move on,” Congressman Bishop said, noting that the FEMA Hazard Mitigation grants are competitively awarded, and that a land swap or buyout for Horton Avenue residents would require coordination with Suffolk County and Riverhead Town.

“I am grateful FEMA has overturned its denial of the request to combine the two March storms. I wish to thank Governor Paterson for appealing the denial and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Congressman Bishop for pressing FEMA to reconsider its decision,” Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine said.  “The declaration will allow Suffolk's towns to secure hazard mitigation grants and bolster Horton Avenue residents applications for grant assistance while relieving local governments of significant unbudgeted expenses.”

Noting that the announcement came on a particularly rainy Saturday, Shirley Coverdale of the Long Island Organizing Network (LION), which has played a leading role in advocating for Horton Avenue said, “I’d like to believe these are showers of blessing.  I am ecstatic at how government came together at all levels and partisan lines to work for the community in an unprecedented way.  This is a rare opportunity to turn rhetoric into reality.”

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