Press Release

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Greene County Eligible to Receive Public Assistance from FEMA

Dec 18, 2012

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has added Greene County to the Major Disaster Declaration (DR-4085) that was declared following Superstorm Sandy. The county is now eligible for assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities like the Freight Master’s Building in Catskill. Schumer and Gillibrand said that this was an important first step in making sure that Greene County gets the help it needs to recover from Sandy. 

“We knew all along that Greene County needed help to cope with the devastation left by Sandy. Now that FEMA has stepped up to the plate to make the necessary funding available, we can begin the process of helping repair and rebuild local infrastructure damaged in the storm,” said Senator Schumer. “Historic buildings like the Freight Master’s building and basic utilities like the sewer treatment plants in Athens and Catskill were crippled by the surging Hudson, and we must do everything we can to help these hard hit communities recover.”

“FEMA’s help is on the way to Greene County families and businesses that sadly were not spared Superstorm Sandy’s path of destruction,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This was the right decision and will help our effort to put all necessary resources on the ground where we need them to help families and businesses clean up, rebuild, and get back on their feet. And we will keep working to make sure no bureaucracy stands in the way of communities getting the assistance they need.”

Through the PA Program, FEMA provides reimbursement funding for eligible projects including those related to debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned facilities and the facilities of certain Private Non-Profit (PNP) organizations. The PA Program also encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures during the recovery process. This reimbursement program is a cost share program, with the Federal government covering at least 75 percent of eligible costs.