NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Mayor Bill de Blasio joined Congressional representatives Charles Schumer and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on a tour of badly damaged homes in Woodside, Queens, Monday.
The tour came just after President Joe Biden declared the city, Westchester and parts of New Jersey a “major disaster area,” freeing up to $36,000 in grants per household that people can use to recover from the devastating storm last week.
“The major disaster declaration that President Biden issued this morning is going to be an incredibly important step for families, homeowners and renters,” Ocasio-Cortez said on 64th Street.
The three toured basements that had flooded on 64th Street, which is still cluttered with damaged personal possessions. President Joe Biden plans to visit the same neighborhood Tuesday.
“It breaks your heart. You see those pictures — the wedding pictures — from 30 years ago and you just want to cry,” said Schumer, the Senate majority leader.
De Blasio acknowledged that getting federal dollars to residents will be a challenge and pledged teams would go “door-to-door” to make sure people are aware of the funds.
“Now comes the part of getting everyone the money they deserve,” de Blasio said. “The city is going to send teams out to all affected areas — door-to-door — to make sure people sign up, to cut through the red tape.”
Residents who properly submit relief applications should receive money within days, according to FEMA.
Still, some residents, still navigating the trauma of the storm and their dispossession, felt the event Monday was a little more than a photo-op; they had little faith that the government would come to their assistance.