JOINT STATEMENT: Rolison, Slater Call on Governor Hochul to Declare State of Emergency in Putnam County

PUTNAM VALLEY -- State Senator Rob Rolison (39^th District) and Assemblyman Matt Slater (94^th District) today called on Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a State of Emergency in Putnam and Westchester counties following flash flooding over the weekend. Roads, bridges, culverts, private property and more were damaged by a slow-moving storm that dumped a season's worth of rain in a just a few hours over parts of the Hudson Valley. Rolison and Slater traveled to Putnam Valley where, alongside Congressman Mike Lawler and Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne, they examined a collapsed roadway and washed-out bridge. While no financial estimates are yet available, the costs of cleanup and recovery are expected to be considerable when compared with recent flood-related damage in Mamaroneck in 2021.

"After an on-site assessment of the damage sustained in Putnam Valley and elsewhere in Putnam County, I am urging Governor Hochul to immediately declare a State of Emergency here. Our Hudson Valley towns and villages have been hardest hit by this catastrophically damaging storm and cannot afford to pay for the rebuilding effort on their own. Roads, bridges, and private property have all been impacted. I encourage the governor to act without delay so that critical resources can rapidly be distributed to the communities that need it most," said Senator Rolison.

"The 94^th Assembly District has been severely impacted after the latest round of storms. Joining Congressman Mike Lawler, Senator Rob Rolison, and County Executive Kevin Byrne on a tour of the impacted areas, it is clear that the governor should include Putnam and Westchester in the declaration of emergency so that the much-needed funding is allocated to the municipalities," said Assemblyman Slater.