ALBANY---Governor Eliot Spitzer has 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.

Based on preliminary damage assessments which began Thursday, 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. Many areas are still affected by flooding and floodwaters must recede before comprehensive assessments can be conducted.

In a request sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Governor is seeking the expedited implementation of FEMA's Individuals and Households Program and Other Needs Assistance Programs for affected counties. This assistance would provide grants for temporary housing and rental assistance, home repairs, and other disaster-related needs. The Governor is also seeking disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling and the maximum allowable assistance to individuals and businesses from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Federal and State disaster assistance covers basic needs that are not insured.

The Governor will also seek implementation of FEMA's Public Assistance Program for those counties deemed eligible for such assistance. This program would provide 75 percent federal reimbursement for the costs of repairs to public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and public buildings damaged in last week's floods, as well as for the cost of protective measures taken by local governments, and for debris removal. In response to the storm, the Governor directed the implementation of the State Disaster Preparedness Plan and last weekend activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Albany to coordinate the appropriate action to protect state property and to assist affected local governments and individuals in responding to and recovering from this storm. Additionally, the Governor activated thousands of National Guardsmen over the weekend to join the thousands of women and men from State agencies who were deployed in storm response operations.

On Monday, the State formally asked FEMA to provide technical assistance in the form of a joint preliminary damage assessment. These assessments are ongoing and will help the state learn the breadth of the damage we have in order to make a strong case for the need for federal assistance. 4-19-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette