Press Release

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1 Million in FEMA Funding for Debris Removal in Old Westbury After Superstorm Sandy

Sep 11, 2013

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,486,636 of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding for the village of Old Westbury which will reimburse the cost to collect, remove and dispose of debris after Superstorm Sandy.

“Superstorm Sandy wreaked significant damage throughout the village of Old Westbury, creating a massive cleanup effort,” said Schumer. “This federal reimbursement for debris cleanup is critical in making sure that Long Islanders are not entirely on the hook for these expenses and I am pleased that this funding is being provided.”

“This federal funding will provide much needed relief for Long Island families and businesses impacted by Superstorm Sandy,” Gillibrand said. “It is critical that the village of Old Westbury has the necessary resources on the ground to recover and rebuild.”

Superstorm Sandy brought strong winds and heavy rains to the New York tri-state area, resulting in downed trees, scattered vegetative debris and other materials strewn throughout busy roadways.

FEMA has awarded the village of Old Westbury $1,486,636 in federal funding for debris removal after Superstorm Sandy. The village of Old Westbury collected, removed and disposed of approximately 106,431 CY of debris using force account labor, equipment and contractors. The Village allowed Village owned debris hauling as well as village contractors to haul in and dump vegetative debris. Due to the quantity and size of the debris pile and site limitations and the health and safety concerns of the Village staff, Edgewood Industries, Inc. was brought in to reduce (chipped/mulched) the size of the debris pile. The debris was hauled from the Village Transfer Station to the Town of North Hempstead Solid Waste Management Site.