FEMA Reimburses Smithtown $6.2M for Sandy Cleanup

Smithtown Town officials are eagerly waiting the arrival of a $6.2 million check that will help pay off debts from Hurricane Sandy. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to reimburse the town for 90 percent of the $6.9 million Smithtown officials claim was spent on collecting, removing and disposing debris after Sandy, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer's office announced. It does not include rebuilding and restoration funds.

Supervisor Patrick Vecchio said he was satisfied with what the town will receive. 

The federal government has transferred the funds to the state government, and its expected to be in town officials' hands within the next week or two. 

If so, FEMA's grant money will arrive a few months earlier than expected by local officials. 

"If our worksheets are in order, which they are - FEMA has actually complimented [Glenn] Jorgensen - we will see the money in August," Vecchio told Patch in June. 

Smithtown Town Board approved a resolution bonding out $4.3 million on June 4, $3 million of which was set aside to reimburse the Highway Department for debris cleanup after the Oct. 29, 2012 storm. At that time, they were still awaiting word when FEMA aid would arrive. 

The $6.9 million pricetag for debris cleanup in the wake of Hurricane Sandy makes Superstorm Sandy five times more costly than Tropical Storm Irene, which cost Smithtown $1.3 million in 2012. 

Town of Smithtown taxpayers will not feel Sandy's potential impact until the town's 2014 budget is drawn up, as Vecchio said FEMA can take up to one year to send out full reimbursements.