Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 22, 2012

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE HEMPSTEAD TO RECEIVE OVER $2,000,000 FEMA GRANT FOR IRENE RECOVERY

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce FEMA Grant to Cover 75% of Hempstead’s Debris Removal Costs, Totaling More Than $2 Million Dollars

Schumer, Gillibrand: This Will Take Much of the Financial Burden Off Hempstead for Irene Recovery and Help Bring the Community Back to Pre-Disaster Conditions

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant of $2,001,865 for the Town of Hempstead to reimburse the town for cleanup costs associated with debris removal resulting from damages caused by Hurricane Irene last August. The storm dumped massive amounts of rain, and high winds caused hundreds of thousands of Long Island residents to lose power, but the damage was particularly devastating in Hempstead.

“I applaud FEMA for stepping up to the plate and providing this much needed funding for Hempstead,” said Schumer. “Hempstead suffered a great deal of damage as a result of Irene, and the town did an admirable job of cleaning up the debris after the storm, but they shouldn’t have to bear the burden of paying this all on their own. This money will ensure that Hempstead is compensated for the vast majority of their debris removal expenses that went towards Irene cleanup.”

“This funding will provide much needed relief for Long Island families and businesses impacted by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee,” Senator Gillibrand said. “Now it’s time to put all necessary resources on the ground to help Hempstead recover. I will fight to secure all the federal funding our communities need.”

Today, Schumer and Gillibrand announced that FEMA had agreed to reimburse the Town of Hempstead for the federal share of the Project to remove debris from within the Town limits. FEMA has agreed to cover 75% of Hempstead’s total debris removal costs, or $2,001,865.

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