UPDATE: Obama Makes Emergency Declaration, Freeing Town to Apply For Storm Aid

It was announced earlier this week that damages from this March's storm surpassed the financial threshold for the county to apply for federal aid. President Obama has now made an emergency declaration freeing affected towns, including Harrison, to apply for the assistance.

March's powerful wind storm not only knocked out power and created a nightmare for commuters, it left behind an expensive cleanup project for local governments all over Westchester.

The storm cost Harrison $62,000 in overtime pay alone, according to Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh. Now the town will be able to apply federal help to cover some of those costs.

"I am pleased President Obama has issued a disaster declaration in response to last month's storms," New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey said in a statement. "The wind, rain, and flooding from the storms caused significant damage to residences, businesses, and property.  I will work with New York and federal authorities to ensure those who were affected have access to assistance."

According to an e-mail from the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, more than enough costs and damages from the storm have been identified within the state and county to receive federal aid. 

In order to apply, the state must identify $25.5 million in damages while individual counties must identify just under $3 million. Since each of those thresholds have been reached, the state can apply for a Federal Disaster Declaration - which Governor David Paterson did on March 29.

Other affected New York counties include Nassau, Orange, Richmond and Suffolk. 

"While the state continues to do everything possible for the residents affected by this devastating storm, we need federal disaster assistance to help these communities recover," Paterson said in a statement. "The same counties affected by the March 2010 nor'easter were pounded by repeated record breaking snow storms in December and February, which cost the state and local governments more than $45 million."

Now that the request has been approved, local municipalities will be allowed to apply for help with a variety of costs related to the storm. These expenses include both overtime and straight pay for town employees who worked with cleanup and for materials used to combat the storm. 

The exact dollar amount Harrison will receive is unknown at this time and will be determined after an evaluation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and New York State.

Mayor Walsh was quick to point out that the president signed a disaster declaration for parts of Rhode Island after the same storm. The declaration has freed that state to apply for federal assistance. 

She added that relief money would obviously be helpful, especially with the town budget already stretched and a bad hurricane season predicted to bring more storms to the East Coast later this year.