GOVERNOR CUOMO SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDER MANDATING THE REMOVAL OF DEBRIS CAUSING PUBLIC NUISANCES IN REGIONS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE SANDY

For Immediate Release: November 6, 2012

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed an Executive Order that declared certain conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy to be public nuisances that pose a public health hazard and ordered the relevant local officials to remove the debris. The Executive Order covers the damage in and around the federally-declared disaster counties of Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester. With the upcoming storm headed toward New York, which could worsen the existing debris and damage that was caused by Hurricane Sandy, the Governor ordered the immediate removal of the public nuisances by local county officials.
Below is the text of the Executive Order:

No. 63
E X E C U T I V E O R D E R

DECLARING CERTAIN CONDITIONS CAUSED BY HURRICANE SANDY IN AND AROUND FEDERALLY DECLARED COUNTIES TO BE PUBLIC NUISANCES IMPACTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND ORDERING THE REMOVAL OF THOSE CONDITIONS

WHEREAS, on October 26, 2012, I issued Executive Order Number 47 declaring a disaster emergency in all 62 counties in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, beginning on October 29, 2012, and continuing thereafter, Hurricane Sandy brought damaging winds and torrential rainfall causing record flooding and severe storm surge throughout the State of New York that severely devastated the State; and
WHEREAS, the flooding and storm surge caused by Hurricane Sandy created significant debris in and around the federally declared counties of Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland , Suffolk and Westchester, and this debris has caused conditions that continue to pose a persistent threat to the security, life and health of persons in those areas; and
WHEREAS, weather forecasts have identified a second powerful storm which may soon strike in and around the federally declared counties and that may worsen existing debris and related conditions; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 1301 of Article 13 of the Public Health Law, the New York State Commissioner of Public Health has reviewed the conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy in and around the federally declared counties and, based on that review, has found that these conditions to be public nuisances;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 1301 of Article 13 of the Public Health Law hereby declare the conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy to be public nuisances and order relevant local officials to remove the debris forthwith.
G I V E N under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this fifth day of November in the year two thousand twelve.
BY THE GOVERNOR
Secretary to the Governor