Feed

Hurricane Irene

By David Freedlander 8/31/11 9:19am

Hurricane Irene

p082711ps-0293

President Obama Declares New York a Disaster

President Barack Obama declared the State of New York a major disaster and ordered federal aid to the areas affected by Hurricane Irene.

Declaring New York an official disaster makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the Albany, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Ulster counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster, according to a release from the White House. Read More

By David Freedlander 8/28/11 8:40pm

Hurricane Irene

Subways To Resume Service 6 A.M. Monday

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and M.T.A. head Jay Walder announced that the subway system would begin to come back on line at 6:00 tomorrow morning.

They added however that service will be less frequent than normal, and customers should expect longer waits and more crowded trains. Frequency of service is expected to improve over the course of the day.

With the city being spared the worst of the storm, both Cuomo and Walder have come under some heat for shutting down the subway system, which in the end disrupted life in the city nearly as much as the storm did. In a statement, Cuomo defended the response. Read More

By David Freedlander 8/26/11 4:37pm

Hurricane Irene

schumer and gillibrand

As Irene Approaches, Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Obama to Declare State of Emergency for NY

Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to President Obama calling on him to declare a federal state of emergency for New York as Hurricane Irene approaches.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo requested the declaration yesterday. In their letter to the president, Schumer and Gillibrand pointed out that New York has seen near record rainfall amounts during August and grounds in and around New York City are already saturated. Read More

By David Freedlander 8/26/11 1:19pm

Hurricane Irene

mta-struggling-with-budget-issues

Cuomo Orders M.T.A. to Shut Down Starting Noon Tomorrow

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered the Metropolitan Transportation Agency to suspend operations beginning at 12:00 tomorrow.

Additionally, if wind speeds exceed 60 mph, the George Washington Bridge, the Tappan Zee bridge, and all bridges operated by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, as well as the New York State Thruway will be closed to traffic.

“We have moved quickly to initiate our emergency plans, to work with our federal and local partners, and to identify, prepare, and put into place one of the most aggressive activations of New York State government ever assembled in the face of a possible natural disaster,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement. “We are fully committed and we are preparing for the worst.” Read More