Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an order Friday declaring a disaster emergency for Suffolk County following the record rainfall over the weekend that resulted in severe flooding, damaged several state and local roads, and caused the breach of two dams.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “I am thankful for Governor Hochul signing the executive order declaring a Disaster Emergency for Suffolk County. As we continue to assess damage and uncover the magnitude of this disaster, we are grateful for the state’s partnership as we will continue to work with all our partners to ensure our communities recover from this unprecedented weather event.”
Hochul also announced that she will submit a request for a federal Emergency Declaration from President Joe Biden to support response and recovery operations in Suffolk County. A federal Emergency Declaration would authorize FEMA to provide reimbursement for debris removal operations, emergency protective measures like sheltering, evacuations, search and rescue operations, and actions to eliminate or reduce immediate threats of significant additional damage to critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water control facilities and utilities.
“We are working around the clock to ensure that impacted residents and municipalities are able to rebuild after this devastating flooding event,” Hochul said. “Protecting New Yorkers is my top priority, and I am committed to supporting Long Island throughout the recovery process.”
Homeowners affected by flash flooding caused by the record rainfall may be eligible for help through the New York Homes and Community Renewal, which is launching an emergency repair program for homeowner s in Nassau and Suffolk counties .
Experts from the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services are working with local counterparts to assess damage statewide in order to determine the state’s ability to request federal disaster relief resources from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Under the HCR progra m, homeowners may be eligible for grants of up to $50,000 to fund or reimburse certain qualifying health and safety related repairs to address damage caused by the storm that are not covered by insurance or other disaster relief programs. Applicants must be homeowners who occupy the home as a primary residence and total household income may not exceed 150 percent of the area median income.
The program will be administered by local partners who will work directly with affected homeowners and assist them with insurance claims, the repair and reconstruction process and reimbursement requests. Homeowners that wish to be notified when applications open are encouraged to complete this form .
The flooding was so significant east of Huntington that the National Weather Service declared the first-ever flash flood emergency for Suffolk County, which indicates an immediate threat to life safety. This event was a 1-in-1,000-year rain event for the impacted area. Multiple swiftwater rescues occurred, especially in the Town of Brookhaven, during the early morning hours on Monday and the Mill Pond Dam failed completely, causing six families to be displaced. both directions.
Multiple sinkholes were reported as a result of flooding, including in the hamlets of Commack and East Setauket, and several state and local parks experienced significant flooding as well.
The Department of Financial Services staff will be deployed to affected communities to provide insurance help to residents and businesses affected by severe weather and will also be staffing a resource center to assist residents and business owners with insurance-related questions. DFS staff will be deployed to the following affected communities:
- Tuesday, August 27 – Stony Brook University’s Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT), Room 343, 1500 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook, NY 11794 . 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 28 – Stony Brook University’s Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT), Room 343, 1500 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook, NY 11794 . 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
After contacting insurance companies, residents can also get assistance with insurance information regarding policy coverage for losses and suggestions on how to document their losses and safeguard their property by calling the Department’s Disaster Hotline at 800-339-1759.
Flood insurance issued by FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is not regulated by the Department. For flood insurance information, contact NFIP at (800) 621-3362 or www.floodsmart.gov .
New Yorkers who have been impacted by flooding are encouraged to visit the DFS Disaster and Flood Recovery Resource Center for information.
Photo of Stump Pond at Blydenburg Park, by office of State Sen. Mario Mattera
Most Popular
Comments / 0