Highlighting Unprecedented Brush Fires, Drought Warning In New York City, Gillibrand Calls For Federal Action To Address Increasing Frequency And Severity Of Extreme Weather

Highlighting Unprecedented Brush Fires, Drought Warning In New York City, Gillibrand Calls For Federal Action To Address Increasing Frequency And Severity Of Extreme Weather

Nov 24, 2024

Highlighting the record dry conditions and brush fires across New York City, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a press conference in Manhattan calling for a comprehensive disaster relief package to address the fires and drought, as well as the many other natural disasters that have recently impacted New York. She is calling on Congressional leadership and appropriators to provide additional federal funding for disaster relief as soon as possible, including for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund. Without such emergency funding, New York will not be able to get the assistance needed for long-term recovery and mitigation efforts.

Gillibrand was joined by New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol and Andrew Ansbro, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York

"Over the last month, we have seen an unprecedented number of brush fires across the city," said Senator Gillibrand. "As global warming gets worse, these fires - as well as other extreme weather events - are only becoming more common, rapidly depleting federal disaster relief funds. That is why today, I am calling on congressional leadership to pass a comprehensive disaster relief package to replenish funding for key federal disaster response programs to ensure that New York City, FDNY, and communities across New York have access to the funding, equipment, and other resources they need to rebuild and recover.

"From the shores of Maui to the streets of New York City, the United States government must be prepared when disaster strikes," said Congressman Dan Goldman. "Over the past few years, communities across the United States have been rocked by extreme weather events and countless wildfires, depleting resources from our disaster relief programs. We must not leave our communities to suffer when they inevitably face another natural disaster - Congress must immediately pass President Biden's $100 billion supplemental disaster relief funding request."

"From Hurricane Sandy to more recently with Hurricanes Helene and Milton, natural disasters and other extreme weather events undoubtedly upend the lives of entire communities, some of which are forever changed by the devastation left in their wake," said Congressman Adriano Espaillat. "We have witnessed wildfires in California and here in New York, and states across our nation are abnormally dry and face drought. During this unprecedented time of climate change impact, Congress must provide the American people with the necessary support and supplemental disaster funding to help families recover from these life changing events."

"In the 1980s, there were fewer than eight billion-dollar disasters per year. Last year there were 28,"said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. "Disasters like droughts, deadly flash floods, extreme heat, tornados, and hurricanes don't discriminate between red and blue states. Agencies like NYCEM rely on federal funding to protect our communities before an emergency and to help them recover after. We need this supplemental funding to ensure safety for every part of our country."

The full text of Senator Gillibrand's letter to congressional leadership is available here or below:

Dear Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Chair Murray, Chairman Cole, Vice Chair Collins, and Ranking Member DeLauro,

As New York State continues to face unprecedented wildfires in a year already plagued by disasters, we write to urge you to pass legislation as soon as possible to provide the supplemental funding needed to help New York, and communities across the country, recover from natural disasters.

Like many states, New York has experienced a variety of devastating natural disasters in recent years. Almost two years ago, a severe blizzard brought hurricane-force winds, mass power outages, and extreme cold to communities in Western New York, and particularly the Buffalo metropolitan area, tragically resulting in nearly 50 deaths. New York then experienced catastrophic flooding in July 2023, which caused widespread damage in numerous counties across New York State. Another severe storm hit New York less than three months later, resulting in extreme flash flooding in New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. And while the year is not finished, 2024 has also been tragic. New York experienced a major storm in July, and then two additional major storms in August, all three of which devastated communities across the State.

As New York continues the recovery and rebuilding process following these disasters and others in recent years, it is also actively dealing with an unprecedented emergency. New York State is currently experiencing record low rainfall, intensifying drought, and wildfire conditions, which has caused a historic surge of fires across the State. More than 400 fire departments statewide with over 1,300 personnel have been deployed to combat the fires and to assist with their containment. New York City has had more than 270 brush fires this month alone, the most in the city's history. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was thankfully able to provide emergency assistance to support ongoing response efforts. However, unless the federal disaster relief programs are replenished, New York will not be able to receive the assistance needed to mitigate the potential risk and impacts of future fires.

In order to meet the ongoing recovery needs of New York and all communities suffering across the United States, Congress must pass a comprehensive disaster relief package to replenish the key federal disaster response programs and support long-term recovery efforts. Specifically, FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program, and the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Disaster Loan Program all must be replenished as soon as possible. Significant funding is critically needed for the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Emergency Relief Program, USDA's Emergency Watershed Protection Program, and USDA's Rural Development Disaster Assistance Fund, as well as the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Emergency Relief Program. Funding for Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds is also necessary to repair damaged water infrastructure and protect access to safe drinking water. President Biden's recent request for nearly $100 billion in disaster aid details the precise levels of funding needed, and we urge you to pass legislation as soon as possible in line with his request.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

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