Clinton Supports Call for Disaster Assistance to Storm Damaged New York Areas

By admin - Posted on April 20th, 2007

Senator Supports Governor's Request for Federal Disaster Declaration in 12 New York Counties; Calls FEMA Director to Urge Him to Expedite Request

April 19, 2007 -- Washington, DC - Following the request late yesterday for federal assistance from New York's Governor Eliot Spitzer for the storm ravaged areas of the state, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton again today called on President Bush to quickly provide the necessary aid and assistance to the areas that were hit by the recent Nor'easter.

In a letter to President Bush, Clinton asked that the White House expedite FEMA's assessment of the storm damage and issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration consistent with the Stafford Act as soon as possible in order to get assistance to the affected areas. Senator Clinton also placed a call to FEMA Director David Paulison today, asking him to expedite his agency's disaster declaration recommendations to the President and to urge him to make a major disaster declaration for 12 New York Counties and New York City.

Based on preliminary damage assessments, Governor Eliot Spitzer asked the Bush Administration to make a major disaster declaration for 12 counties and New York City and to provide federal recovery assistance to homeowners, renters and small businesses following last weekend's devastating springtime Nor'easter. The 12 counties include Westchester, Orange, Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Nassau, Putnam, Rockland, Schoharie, Suffolk and Ulster. These assessments have just commenced, as communities transition from storm response to storm recovery activities. The Governor also noted that many areas are still affected by flooding and floodwaters must recede before comprehensive assessments can be conducted.

"This storm has wreaked havoc on many communities, leaving many people and their homes, farms and businesses severely damaged. New Yorkers need assistance and they need it now," Senator Clinton said. "State and local emergency officials are already on the ground, doing everything they can to help minimize the damage and save lives but this is a critical emergency that requires federal assistance. Now that the Governor has asked the Administration for a Federal Disaster Declaration for these counties, I hope the President will expedite his request so that residents, business owners, farmers and other can get on with the job of cleaning and rebuilding their lives."

Yesterday, Senator Clinton sent a similar letter to the President urging him to act and she also called on Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Mark Everson to grant a further extension of at least two weeks for the tax filing deadline to the 1st of May to enable the residents to ensure their families' safety and assess their damages and losses without fear of missing the IRS deadline. (Read more >)

[A copy of Senator Clinton letter to President Bush is below]

April 19, 2007

The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to follow up on the letter that I sent to you yesterday. New York Governor, Eliot Spitzer has asked you to make a major disaster declaration for 12 New York counties and New York City and I ask for your full consideration of the Governor's request.

The State of New York and technical assistance teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been conducting preliminary assessments of the damage left in the wake of the Nor'easter storm. The full extent of the damage left by the storm has yet to be assessed due to continued flooding and standing floodwater, but the destruction on the homes and small business by the storm is devastating. Preliminary assessments have found extensive damage in New York City and in the New York counties of Westchester, Orange, Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Nassau, Putnam, Rockland, Schoharie, Suffolk and Ulster. Throughout the impacted areas basements were flooded, houses teetered on eroded beaches, farm land was flooded, people have been forced from their homes and businesses have been ruined by water damage.

Assistance is needed in the form of debris removal, infrastructure repair, small business loans, home repair, and other disaster related aid available from FEMA. I urge you to issue a Major Disaster Declaration consistent with the Stafford Act as soon as possible so we can provide the assistance that so many people desperately need.

I thank you for your immediate consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly should I be able to provide additional information.

Sincerely yours,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Source: Senator Hillary Clinton

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