New York Governor Paterson Announces Nine Counties To Receive U.S. Disaster Aid For December Ice Storm

March 5, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that President Obama has approved New York State’s appeal and declared nine counties eligible for major federal disaster assistance for the damages that resulted from the December 2008 ice storm. The counties included in the major disaster declaration are Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington.

On February 4, the Governor appealed the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) denial of the State’s request for a major disaster declaration under the direction of the previous administration. On February 18, Governor Paterson met with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and discussed the status of his appeal for the federal disaster assistance among other issues.

“I thank President Obama and Secretary Napolitano for this much-needed assistance,” said Governor Paterson. “This federal disaster declaration will help put New York State on the road to recovery after the destructive December ice storm. I also thank the New York Congressional Delegation, including Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representatives Michael Arcuri, Paul Tonko, John Hall and Maurice Hinchey for leading the effort to help get this federal aid.”

“I want to again commend all local and State first responders and utility crews for the long hours and hard work they put in to open roads, provide emergency assistance, and bring the lights and heat back on for their friends and neighbors,” the Governor added.

Under provisions of the federal disaster declaration, assistance for State and local governments in the declared counties includes:

* Reimbursement of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities.

* Reimbursement of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for removing debris from public areas and for emergency measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health.

* Federal funding on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. FEMA will reimburse not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a late date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

The Governor has appointed John R. Gibb, Director of the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO), as State Coordinating Officer for this disaster. In that role, he will direct State agencies’ recovery efforts and coordinate disaster relief programs with federal agencies.

On December 12, the Governor declared a State Disaster Emergency for the 16 counties. Then-President Bush declared a federal emergency in the 16 counties on December 18. Following a preliminary damage assessment in the impacted counties, Governor Paterson requested a major federal disaster declaration for those counties on December 31.

More than a thousand State workers joined in the response efforts to the ice storm as it crippled the State and local transportation network and brought down ice-covered tree limbs and power lines, cutting electric power to hundreds of thousands, including the Department of Transportation, State Police, State Emergency Management Office, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and the State Department of Correctional Services.

Source: New York Governor