Lanza Calls on Fema, NY Semo, and Nyc Oem to Visit Staten Island and Declare a Disaster Emergency

Senator Andrew Lanza today asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO), and the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to immediately visit Staten Island in order to see first-hand the extensive damage caused by the nor’easter storm which ripped through the borough this weekend.

Tens of thousands lost power after extensive rain and wind damage uprooted hundreds of trees damaging homes and taking down power lines. “Staten Island, the hardest hit borough, was nearly brought to a standstill by the nor’easter which ripped through the borough this weekend,” said Senator Lanza. “Hundreds of families are still dealing with flooded basements, power outages and tree removal.”

“Staten Island families and businesses are in urgent need of aid for clean up and repairs. I call on Federal, State and City emergency agencies to visit our borough, assess the damage and act quickly to make the necessary declarations so that Staten Island can begin receiving the disaster relief it desperately needs.”

Accordingly, I call upon Governor Paterson to declare a state of emergency in Richmond County and formally request from the president that FEMA and the federal government respond to the disaster.

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