Biden Signs Disaster Declaration, Paving Way For Storm Repair Funding On Long Island

STONY BROOK, NY — President Joe Biden signed a major disaster declaration, paving the way for federal funding to repair infrastructure damaged by August's flash flooding across the North Shore of Suffolk County, officials said Monday.

Flooding on Aug. 18 and 19 reportedly wrecked havoc in the communities of Smithtown, Rocky Point, and Stony Brook. In Brookhaven Town, the damage stretches from Stony Brook at Mill Pond to Sills Gully in Shoreham, officials said. In Stony Brook, Harbor Road collapsed and the nearby duck pond overflowed placing fish and birds in danger, according to officials.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the disaster declaration in a Facebook post Monday night, saying that as officials "await a decision on federal funding for homeowners," they will "continue to do all we can to help New Yorkers recover."

In a statement, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said that following "the devastating August storms," he worked with local and state emergency management "to strongly support the state’s disaster request."

He thanked the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Biden for approving the declaration.

“This Major Disaster Declaration will unlock the resources necessary to recover and rebuild stronger, and this welcome approval is the next step in getting New Yorkers the help they need to do exactly that," he said.

Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said town officials have been waiting for the news "to come through and are deeply appreciative."

He thanked everyone for their advocacy on this issue, including Schumer and Hochul.

He called U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota "a stalwart in his support" of the funding.

"We appreciate his attentiveness and advocacy," he said.

Highways Superintendent Dan Losquadro has been working with the state Department of Environmental Conservation and an engineering firm on permits and plans to address and repair that which was destroyed.