New York Governor Kathy Hochul said President Joe Biden approved her request for a Major Disaster Declaration to aid downstate communities affected by heavy rain and flooding last year.
The declaration covers Kings, Nassau, and Westchester Counties, all of which were hit by historic amounts of rainfall and flooding back in late September 2023.
Over eight inches of rain poured over Brooklyn at that time, while Nassau and Westchester counties saw over six inches of precipitation in a 24-hour period, prompting the governor to declare a State of Emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the mid-Hudson region.
With the Major Disaster Declaration enabled, the federal government will provide funding to the affected areas to support various recovery and reconstruction efforts, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure, among others.
“Communities throughout the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island were devastated by historic rainfall and flooding at the end of September," said Jackie Bray, New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services commissioner. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and President Biden, these communities will now have access to the federal funding they need to support a strong recovery."
In December, Governor Hochul announced that the state had secured low-interest recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration for home and business owners in Kings and Nassau Counties.
