Tonight, President Obama granted New York State's request for a federal emergency declaration. The declaration will release federal resources in advance of Hurricane Sandy's arrival in the Catskills on Monday, and allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund and help coordinate the relief and response effort.
Press release from President Obama:
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the State of New York to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Sandy beginning on October 27, 2012, and continuing.
The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all counties in the State of New York.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.
Philip E. Parr has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal response operations in the affected area.
Governor Cuomo issued a press release about the declaration:
RESIDENT OBAMA GRANTS GOVERNOR CUOMO'S REQUEST FOR A FEDERAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that President Obama has granted his request for a federal emergency declaration.
“Once again, I thank the President for his quick response to my request for a federal emergency declaration which will apply to the entire State of New York. We appreciate the federal government’s support as we continue to prepare for Hurricane Sandy,” Governor Cuomo said.
The declaration will enable the federal government to provide assistance and resources to New York State and local governments to support activities related to evacuation, sheltering, and other protective measures.
The declaration will provide New York with technical assistance at no cost from any federal agency in support of the state’s response to Hurricane Sandy. This includes areas such as debris management, logistics management and electric power generation.
The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is authorized to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding.
This assistance is for all counties in the State of New York.
Additional designations may be made at a later date after if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further evaluation.
