Press Release

Schumer, Gillibrand, Lowey, Maloney Announce Over $3.5 Million in Federal Funding for Cleanup after Superstorm Sandy in the Hudson Valley

Mar 14, 2013

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Reps. Nita Lowey and Sean Patrick Maloney announced the Town of Bedford in Westchester County was awarded $1,195,441 and the Town of Clarkstown in Rockland County was awarded $2,406,314 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding which will reimburse the cost of debris removal in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

“Superstorm Sandy destroyed neighborhoods in Bedford and Clarkstown, creating a massive cleanup effort for the towns and threatened to place a burden on local taxpayers,” said Schumer. “This reimbursement for debris cleanup is critical in making sure that Hudson Valley residents are not on the hook entirely for the expenses and I am pleased that this necessary funding is being provided.”

“Our roads and infrastructure suffered severe damage while Clarkstown and Bedford cleanup crews were on the front lines tirelessly removing debris in the aftermath of the storm,” said Gillibrand. “This necessary reimbursement is an important step as we continue to meet New York’s needs to recover and rebuild.”

“This announcement is good news for Clarkstown as it continues to recover from Sandy,” said Lowey. “Not only did Sandy devastate communities in Westchester and Rockland Counties, but responding to the storm placed huge burdens on the budgets of local counties and towns. This kind of badly-needed and long-awaited federal assistance will help Clarkstown meet its financial needs as it restores vital services to the community and prepares for future natural disasters.”

“With Hudson Valley families, communities and businesses still facing a daunting recovery from Hurricane Sandy, I am glad to see this long overdue and necessary assistance is finally reaching folks in Westchester,” said Maloney.

“We are grateful for the funding reimbursement that the Town of Clarkstown will receive from FEMA for the work our Town Highway Department did during Superstorm Sandy,” said Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack.

FEMA has awarded $2,406,314 to the Town of Clarkstown for debris removal after Superstorm Sandy. The funding will go to Highway, Parks and Recreation, Maintenance, and Sanitation Departments as well as contractors for costs incurred in the removal of hazardous debris resulting from the disaster. Clarkstown sustained damage throughout the region weeks after the storm, including downed trees, uprooted stumps, fallen limbs, downed power lines and severely damaged infrastructure.

FEMA has awarded $1,195,441 to the Town of Bedford for debris removal after Superstorm Sandy. The funding will go to the Town of Bedford for costs incurred in the removal of debris resulting from the disaster. Bedford’s damage included downed trees, fallen tree limbs and downed power lines. Similarly, the $2,406,314 in FEMA funding for the Town of Clarkstown will be used to remove numerous large downed trees, hangers, leaners, and uprooted stumps.