FEMA’s Public Assistance program helps New York schools rebuild

NEW YORK – Following Hurricane Sandy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been working to reimburse schools and school districts in New York for costs associated with emergency work, permanent work and debris removal.

So far, more than $8.1 million in Public Assistance grant funding from FEMA has been approved for school projects in the 14 New York disaster impacted counties designated for Public Assistance.

FEMA recognizes the financial burden on public schools for response and recovery costs and is committed to helping ease that burden, according to Michael F. Byrne, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer for New York.

“These Public Assistance reimbursements will help significantly reduce the impact of Hurricane Sandy costs on local school districts,” Byrne said.  “Our goal is to make sure students and teachers get back to the classroom and continue their focus on education.”

Below is a sampling of school project reimbursements to date:

Permanent work expenses

• $3.8 million to Long Beach Public Schools for repairs to Long Beach High School, LIDO Elementary and Middle School, East Elementary School, West Elementary School and Lindell Elementary School
• $2.8 million to East Rockaway Union Free School District for repairs to the junior and senior high schools
• $263,000 to the State University of New York (SUNY) for repairs, such as replacing concrete drainages and restoring campus lawns
• $27,000 to Suffolk County Community College to repair or replace various damaged school buildings

Emergency work expenses

• $867,206 to East Rockaway Union Free School District for relocation of students, teachers, staff and educational materials
• $152,644 to Seaford Union Free School District for providing school transportation for students
• $19,112 to Port Chester & Rye Union Free School District for opening, maintaining and cleaning an emergency shelter at the Port Chester High School
• $11,896 to Harborfields Central School District for transportation of displaced students
• $1,233 to Irvington High School for reimbursement of community shelter labor costs

Debris removal

• $58,509 to Baldwin Union Free School District for district-wide debris removal
• $36,007 to Port Chester & Rye Union Free School District for district-wide debris removal
• $17,366 to Concordia College for debris removal

FEMA’s Public Assistance program reimburses state, tribal, local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations 75 percent of eligible costs of emergency and permanent work. The remaining 25 percent is provided by non-federal funds. The state forwards the federal funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs.

To learn more about FEMA Public Assistance in New York, visit: fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit and dhses.ny.gov/oem/recovery.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4085, twitter.com/FEMASandy, facebook.com/FEMASandy and fema.gov/blog.