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Northern New York will wait for FEMA aid
Governor Cuomo asked President Obama on May 25th to declare a major federal disaster in New York. That request was a step in the process of receiving aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
At the time it seemed like a foregone conclusion -- but nothing's happened yet and FEMA aid now seems less certain.
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Since state officials began down the road of assessments, declarations and claims required to receive FEMA aid, there have been damaging tornadoes in the south and severe flooding on the Mississippi river…and those have demanded the immediate attention of the president, and FEMA.
"At this point we’re still awaiting the declaration so we can be sure we’re going to get the FEMA aid. As we know there have been a lot of disasters throughout the country, some very damaging, and that’s potentially going to be a big problem," said Congressman Bill Owens, who represents the worst-hit areas in New York, including the Champlain Valley.
Owens said he’s “still hopeful” the state will get the declaration.
The flooding began in late April and has caused tens of millions of dollars in damage so far. Some of its effects, including an 80-acre landslide in Keene Valley, are still ongoing.
