Five Upstate congress members are urging President Joe Biden to declare a presidential emergency for New York State.
Representatives Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Brandon Williams (NY-22), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) have sent a letter supporting Governor Kathy Hochul’s request that Biden declares a Federal Emergency Declaration following the severe weather on July 15 and 16 that left over 400,000 New Yorkers without power across 15 counties.
Over ten tornadoes, five microbursts, and many severe thunderstorms impacted several areas of Upstate New York last month, including the tornado that struck Rome and Canandaigua.
The declaration would authorize FEMA to reimburse impacted areas for debris removal operations, emergency protective measures like 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.
The counties included in the request are Chemung, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oswego, Oneida, Ontario, Saratoga, Schuyler, Steuben, and Warren.
“The severe weather we experienced in July caused significant damage and hardship for countless New Yorkers, including members of our NY-24 community. President Biden must promptly issue a Presidential Emergency Declaration for the State of New York to ensure our communities receive the federal assistance needed for recovery and rebuilding,” said Congresswoman Tenney.
“It is more important now than ever that we come together, across levels of government, to respond to the disaster that has struck our communities. A Presidential Emergency Declaration would greatly aid ongoing efforts to provide relief to constituents who have been impacted, and I join my colleagues in supporting the Governor’s request,” said Congressman Williams.
“My office has worked diligently to provide our Upstate New York and North Country communities with resources as we work to recover from the devastating storms that swept our district this month. I am now calling on the Biden-Harris Administration to issue a Presidential Emergency Declaration for the State of New York and unleash additional resources to help our NY-21 communities persevere through this tragedy and rebuild our communities,” said Congresswoman Stefanik.
“As Western New York and the rest of the state recover from the tornadoes that tore apart homes, farms, and businesses, I will continue to work with my colleagues at all levels of government to secure support to rebuild our communities. A federal disaster declaration will ensure we have the necessary resources to restore local infrastructure and livelihoods,” said Congressman Langworthy.
“After the devastating storms that swept across Upstate New York earlier this month, I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting Governor Hochul’s request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration — a critical first step toward providing our constituents with the resources they need to recover. With severe weather events like these storms on the rise across our nation, I’ll continue pushing for a robust federal response to keeps our communities safe,” said Congressman Paul Tonko.
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