Gov. Kathy Hochul has asked President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster for Nassau and Suffolk counties following September’s nor’easter, seeking federal funding to help local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations cover storm cleanup and repairs.
The request, announced Oct. 27, seeks assistance for recovery from the Sept. 26-27 storm, which brought coastal flooding, heavy rain, strong winds and beach erosion to Long Island.
If approved, the declaration would make federal recovery funding available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance Program. Eligible work includes debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, parks and water and wastewater treatment facilities.
“I will always fight for every resource available to help our communities recover and rebuild following a storm, and that is why I’m requesting a Major Disaster Declaration to secure federal assistance for Nassau and Suffolk Counties,” Hochul said in the announcement.
State emergency management officials worked with FEMA and local governments to assess storm damage and response costs. According to the governor’s office, FEMA completed its review of the joint preliminary damage assessment and validated damage exceeding the statewide threshold for requesting federal assistance.
The announcement did not provide a total damage estimate, a county-by-county breakdown or a list of projects that could qualify for funding.
In Riverhead, initial inspections after the storm found no significant structural damage to town facilities other than torn canvas coverings on the highway department’s two salt and sand storage facilities. Police handled 91 storm-related calls during a 64-hour response, and local growers reported crop damage and the loss of a busy fall sales weekend, RiverheadLOCAL previously reported.
Across Nassau and Suffolk counties, the storm brought down more than 1,150 trees and 580 large branches, damaging utility poles and electrical wires, according to the governor’s office.
Repeated high tides coinciding with a full moon produced more than three feet of flood inundation in several areas, the state said. Portions of Long Island’s shoreline lost four feet or more of sand, while rainfall generally totaled two to four inches, with more than six inches in some locations.
U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand supported the request and urged Trump to approve it.
The Public Assistance program generally covers at least 75% of eligible costs, according to FEMA. The governor’s announcement describes assistance for governments and eligible nonprofits; it does not announce grants for individual homeowners or businesses.
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