New York (1010 WINS) — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday sent a request for a major disaster declaration to President Biden for approval and said she identified hundreds of millions for new statewide resiliency efforts.
The unprecedented rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Ida caused at least $50 million in damages to property and infrastructure in New York, seriously impacting 1,2000 homes — in addition to causing 17 deaths, according to Hochul.
“We want [the declaration] in the president’s hands, FEMA’s hands as soon as possible,” Hochul said.
Biden is scheduled to tour areas of Queens devastated by Ida on Tuesday, according to the White House. Should the president approve the declaration, it would deliver federal funds to New York to help people displaced with temporary housing, home repairs, crisis councilling and legal services, among other services, according to Hochul.
Hochul promised “dramatic action” to combat climate change, and said she had also identified $375 million in federal money that she has the power to allocate to storm resiliency in New York.
“I’m operating under the assumption that this could happen again in another ten days. Are we prepared for this to happen in ten more days?” asked Hochul, noting that Ida’s record-setting rainfall came just days after another unprecedented storm in New York City.
The governor said she would be conferring with local officials to figure out a plan to distribute the funds for such projects.
“I’m asking all of our local elected officials: tell me where the challenges are..and we will go right to those places first,” said Hochul.
Hochul also said she would like to create a “better warning system” to alert residents in multiple languages when such storms approach the region.
“The human impact is extraordinary; it felt like a humanitarian crisis in another country — and this is the state of New York,” she said.