Skoufis Slams FEMA for Failures on Federal Disaster Reparation After July Storm

9/27 - FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, announced today that there will be NO funding for individuals with devastating storm damage during July's horrific flooding. With budget negotions in Washington, DC stalled at a standstill, cuts to FEMA Disaster Recovery Programs may offer assistance for some infrastructure repairs, but unless New York State and County Authorities can make up the difference with alternative "Public Assistance", local homeowners will be left to fend for themselves. At least some credit and loan institutions are offering agreements on deferred payments, so if you are in a financial bind call and talk to them!

According to a Times Union publication, "A FEMA associate administrator wrote that preliminary damage assessments were conducted in Orange and Ontario counties from July 20 to Aug. 22 and that, based on all available information, “the impact to the individuals and households from this event was not of such severity and magnitude to warrant the designation of Individual Assistance."

Governor Hochul has not yet made a statement in response to the decision..

Skoufis Reacts to FEMA Denial of Individual Assistance for Victims of July Flood

“FEMA’s decision to deny individual assistance for my Orange County constituents after months of stringing them along is nothing but a slap in the face to so many in our communities who have already lost everything.

“After taking a pummeling from Mother Nature in July, our Highland Falls and Cornwall neighbors dutifully followed FEMA’s lead, reporting their damages, filing insurance claims that ultimately went nowhere, and hoping and praying that their federal government would step in and do the right thing – the only thing – to make our Orange County neighbors whole.

“When the flood waters receded, the promise of FEMA’s eventual helping hand buoyed the heavy hearts of our neighbors. Now, they’re left with nothing. Over the next several months, I’ll do everything in my power to rally the resources the state and federal government failed to provide to homeowners and renters. Shame on FEMA.”

Congressman Pat Ryan agreed, saying "This is total BS. FEMA should come and talk to these people whose homes and lives were devastated."