Biden Approves Emergency Declaration For NY After Severe Storm

LONG ISLAND, NY – The Federal Emergency Management Administration announced Sunday that federal disaster assistance is available for the state of New York to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from a severe storm and flooding from Aug. 18 to 19.

President Joe Biden's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate "the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of catastrophe," a release said.

Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding for Suffolk County.

Areas of Suffolk County bore the brunt of the storm damage on Long Island: In Stony Brook, Harbor Road collapsed, leaving homes and roadways devastated — and the duck pond at the Avalon Nature Preserve completely emptied and wildlife in peril, officials said.

Animal advocates such as Strong Island Rescue worked tirelessly to save fish and other wildlife stranded by the storm.

Mother Nature's wrath descended upon Long Island with torrential rain, leaving motorists needing rescue and basements swamped with water, and sparking major flooding and road closures.

"Catastrophic damage on Harbor Road in Stony Brook due to significant rainfall early this morning," Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico posted on social media. He said there was flooding across the North Shore, and "extensive damage to roadways and homes."

Panico was at the scene with emergency Suffolk County fire personnel, county officials and Brookhaven town officials.

According to the National Weather Service, Stony Brook was one of the hardest-hit areas on Long Island, with 9.55 inches of rain reported.

The funding will come as much-needed relief to hard-hit communities, officials agreed.

"We will work together to restore that view and the historic Mill Pond, aka the Stony Brook Duck Pond, for the people of Stony Brook and beyond," Panico wrote on social media. "It will take time, but our highway superintendent has already procured the services of a leading engineering firm, and we will continue to make our case to the state and federal government for funding."