Maloney, Lowey and Other Local Leaders Mark One Year Sandy Anniversary, Announce Additional Federal Aid for the Region

Newburgh, NY - One year after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney and Congresswoman Nita Lowey joined local officials to mark the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy and announce more than $2 billion in additional federal investments for New York State from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Earlier this year, HUD allocated approximately $1.7 billion in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery to New York.

“New Yorkers always greet adversity with strength, courage, and resiliency. I’ve been working with over 40 communities and local stakeholders across the Hudson Valley to rebuild stronger communities and invest in our neighbors and our economy,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “Working closely with Governor Cuomo and leaders like George Green, we will continue to make critical progress towards filling the unmet needs of our Hudson Valley communities and businesses still recovering from Lee, Irene and Sandy.”

“One year ago, Sandy made landfall and devastated our region, taking lives and damaging homes and businesses,” said Congresswoman Lowey, who fought to make Westchester and Rockland Counties part of the federal Major Disaster Declaration. “Federal assistance has been absolutely essential in helping communities across the Lower Hudson Valley get back on their feet. Federal aid has also helped protect local taxpayers who would otherwise be on the hook for recovery costs. While I am proud to have helped secure financial aid for individuals, small businesses and local governments that suffered as a result of Sandy, I will not stop working until our community as a whole has recovered and is stronger than before.”

“I am grateful for Representative Maloney’s continued support as we work to secure investments for our community. Together we can not only recover but rebuild even stronger after the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy,” said North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas.

“When you look at how much was accomplished in a year that included such a life-changing disaster, you realize how impactful our mission work is to the entire community”, said Naomi Adler, CEO and President of United Way of Westchester and Putnam. “Hundreds of volunteers, partner nonprofits, government workers, and businesses stepped forward to help with us this year and we owe them a big ‘thank you’.”

Hudson Valley communities, individuals, and businesses have received more than $47 million in assistance from FEMA while recovering from Hurricane Sandy. More than $155 million in FEMA assistance has been brought to our Hudson Valley to help them recover and rebuild from Sandy, Irene and Lee including $69.6 million to Orange County and $64 million in Westchester County. Many of the funds were made available by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, a bipartisan bill passed by Congress in January that provided $60 billion for response and recovery to aid communities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and others that suffered due to Sandy.

In June, Rep. Maloney hosted a workshop that helped over two dozen community leaders apply for strategic investments to prevent damage from future disasters. In addition, Rep. Maloney launched a resource page to help homeowners and businesses continue to apply for federal recovery aid from previous disasters. For more information on applying for federal aid and New York State recovery programs, interested residents and businesses should visit http://nysandyhelp.ny.gov, or contact Maloney’s Newburgh Office at 845-561-1259.