One year after Hurricane Ida hit New York State, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Monday the release of a proposed Action Plan by the Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR), which includes $41.2 million in federal funds to support initiatives that will help residents adapt to the effects of climate change while prioritizing historically underserved communities.
The state president indicated that they remain fully committed to the reconstruction of the infrastructure affected by the passage of the cyclone, especially in the most vulnerable communities.
“Our Action Plan will prioritize financing homes, businesses and other key programs in the hardest-hit and most distressed areas, which will help ensure all New Yorkers get up as we recover,” Hochul said. “As we grapple with the effects of climate change, we will continue to do everything we can to help New Yorkers and their communities recover from extreme weather events.”
Among the proposed programs is ‘Resilient Housing Renters’, which would encourage renters to move out of houses damaged by the storm while remaining in their existing communities by providing financial support for them to obtain safe and stable new housing. There is also the ‘Housing Recovery and Reimbursement’, which would invest in repairs of storm damage to residential homes and/or reimbursement for repairs already completed. The ‘Affordable Housing Resilience’ program would invest in flood mitigation measures and resiliency improvements in public and affordable multi-family housing complexes, as well as expansion of affordable housing where feasible.
Further , the state will consider New Yorkers’ input on these proposed programs. Therefore, the governor called for state residents to testify about the plan before 28 September, by attending the public hearing in person on September 8 September at 6: 30 pm at New Rochelle City Hall, or to the virtual hearing on 11 September at 6: 30 pm You can get more information at https://stormrecovery.ny.gov/funding/action-plans-amendments.
On September 1, 2021, Hurricane Ida flooded houses and roads, causing damage valued at $7,41 millions and killing 17 New Yorkers. FEMA identified flood damage to 11,11 homes. Earlier this spring, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced an allocation of $3, in funding for help communities recover.
“Hurricane Ida was a stark reminder that the next climate emergency is not a question of if it will happen, but when. Our action plan will help New Yorkers rebuild and take steps to stay safe in the future,” said Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, Katie Brennan.
For For his part, Senator Charles Schumer recalled that Hurricane Ida devastated communities throughout New York and caused millions in damage to roads, businesses and hundreds of homes.
“I fought tooth and nail to deliver millions in federal funds to give families and communities in New York City and the Hudson Valley the support they need to recover and rebuild stronger. I applaud Governor Hochul for putting those dollars to work to help make our communities more resilient and get people on the road to recovery.”