Press Release

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Schoharie and Schenectady Counties to Receive Critical FEMA Assistance

Oct 21, 2011

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Schoharie County individual assistance to help rebuild and repair homes and businesses damaged by Tropical Storm Lee and Schenectady County has been awarded public assistance to help with debris removal, emergency protective actions, and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Schoharie County is already eligible for public assistance and Schenectady County was already declared eligible for individual assistance. Schumer and Gillibrand already successfully pushed to provide Schoharie County with public assistance, and Schenectady County with individual assistance, and said this is an important step in making sure that Schoharie and Schenectady Counties gets the help it needs to recover from Lee. 

“The devastation in the Capital Region as a result of the recent tropical storms is unimaginable, and it’s been abundantly 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 our Capital Region communities have 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 for Schoharie and Schenectady Counties, we can begin the process of helping repair and rebuild local infrastructure damaged in the storm, and helping local residents rebuild their homes and their lives in the wake of this tragedy.” 

“This is great news for families and businesses in the Schoharie and Schenectady Counties 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 assistance for 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 residents in Schoharie County would be getting help to begin the difficult rebuilding process. Schoharie County has already been deemed eligible for public assistance.

Through the public assistance Program, FEMA will provide Schenectady County supplemental Federal disaster grant assistance for 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. Schenectady County was already deemed eligible for individual assistance.