Village Awarded Over $4.5M for Sandy-Related Cleanup Costs

Garden City has been awarded more than $4.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public assistance funding to reimburse the village for cost of debris removal in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, according to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer.

Village administrator Bob Schoelle, however, told Patch that as of Tuesday the village had not received "anything." According to a representative in Schumer's office, "FEMA normally obligates the funds to the state within 24-72 business hours of notice." The village received notice on Monday.

“Superstorm Sandy wreaked significant damage in and around Garden City, creating a massive cleanup effort that, in turn, threatened to place a burden on local taxpayers,” Schumer said. “This reimbursement for debris cleanup is critical in making sure that residents of Garden City are not on the hook entirely for the expenses, and I am pleased to announce this necessary funding.”

Garden City is slated to receive $4,513,696 to reimburse the village for Sandy-related costs associated with debris removal within rights of way and public property. This reimbursement will go towards force account labor, force account equipment and contract labor which was used to collect and transport 29,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris as well as 65 downed trees throughout the village, according to Schumer.

According to village auditor Jim Olivo, the village has not yet finished tallying the total cost of expenses associated with the storm. "The $4 million seems like federal only since we are over [$5 million] and the state has an obligation," he said.

FEMA is currently expected to pay 75 percent of Garden City's storm expenses. The village and state are both still on the hook for 12.5 percent of total expenditures.

In February, Olivo stated that information coming back from FEMA reps noted that the storm was severe enough in the New York area that the emergency management agency could pick up a higher percentage than 75 percent.

In areas like the City of Long Beach, Schumer urged FEMA to move forward with a recommendation to President Obama that would adjust the federal cost-share from 75 to 90 percent for the city. Schumer drew on the Stafford Act, which requires FEMA to pay at least 75 percent of eligible costs, including repair, restoration and debris removal. Once federal obligations meet or exceed $133 per capita of the state’s population -- $2.6 billion in the case of New York -- FEMA can recommend the President adjust the federal cost-share from 75 percent to 90 percent, according to Schumer's office.