Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Oneida County individual assistance to help rebuild and repair homes and businesses damaged by Tropical Storm Lee. Schumer personally called Administrator Fugate, urging FEMA to extend this type of assistance as quickly as possible. Schumer and Gillibrand said that this was an important first step in making sure that Oneida County gets the help it needs to recover from Lee, and urged FEMA to grant public assistance as well so local governments aren’t forced to shoulder the entire burden of infrastructure repairs.
“The devastation here in the Oneida County as a result of this record-breaking natural disaster is unimaginable, and it’s been clear that the region needs the full support of the federal government to begin rebuilding,” said Schumer. “That’s why I called Administrator Fugate to tell him that FEMA needs to work hand in glove with state and local leaders to make sure Oneida County has every resource necessary to rebuild homes, businesses, roads, bridges, utilities, and other key infrastructure. Now that FEMA has heeded that call and stepped up to the plate to make the necessary funding available, we can begin the process of helping local residents rebuild their homes and their lives in the wake of this tragedy. I am going to keep pushing to ensure that local governments receive the help they need as well.”
“This is great news for families and businesses in Oneida County in dire need of help to dig out from this devastating storm, and begin to recover,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Now it’s time to put all necessary resources on the ground where we need them to bring relief. I will fight to secure all the federal funding our communities need.”
FEMA’s individual assistance program includes range of programs, including home repair, temporary housing, grants for serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. With individual assistance, Schumer and Gillibrand said that finally Oneida County residents would be getting the help they need to begin the difficult rebuilding process.