U.S. Army of Corp. of Engineers to Help With Debris Removal

Areas like Wantagh and Seaford that were seriously impacted by Superstorm Sandy will soon be getting some outside help in picking up the pieces.

U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford announced during a press conference at Cedar Creek Park Friday afternoon that the Army Corp. of Engineers would be sending in crews to help with debris removal. King said arrangements for help from the Army Corp. of Engineers was made at the request of him along with U.S Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Charles Schumer, D-.N.Y.

Congressman King said he hopes the assistance from the Army Corp. of Engineers will help the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) in its efforts to more quickly address many outages across the area. As of mid Friday afternoon, more than were without power in the Wantagh-Seaford area, according to the utility's storm center outage map. 

“[Power] is not only an issue of convenience but is an issue of life and safety,” said Congressman King during the press conference at Cedar Creek Park off Merrick Road in Seaford that also featured remarks from Senator Gillibrand and Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano about relief efforts. “It is important that power be restored as quickly as possible and the Army Corp. of Engineers is coming to assist with that.”

Senator Gillibrand said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has given the Army Corp. of Engineers $10 million for disaster relief to aid its debris removal efforts.

“We are going to continue to fight for resources,” Sen. Gillibrand said during the press conference that was held in front of a feeding site the American Red Cross has set up at Cedar Creek Park.

Mangano said he was on a conference call Thursday with President Obama and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who both made commitments to provide any disaster relief Nassau County is in need of to the county’s Office of Emergency Management in Bethpage.