FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2000

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES DISASTER RELIEF FOR NY

Albany, Chenango, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onandaga, Otsego, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties Eligible For Federal Aid

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that 12 New York counties have been declared major disaster areas by the President and will receive federal aid to help repair damages caused by excessive storms and flooding that occurred in May and June.

"This is great news for those areas hardest-hit by these storms," said Schumer. "New York has been hit hard over the past few months by extreme weather and it is encouraging to know that the government is there to help communities fix themselves and return to normal."

Schumer said that Albany, Chenango, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties will be eligible to receive federal assistance. This funding is made available on a cost-sharing basis and is to be used to fix or replace public facilities that were damaged by the extreme weather of the past two months. The federal government will pick up 75 percent of the costs of these repairs with the remaining 25 percent paid for by a non- federal source.

"It would have been unfair to make local taxpayers bear the entire burden of this extraordinary
act of nature," added Schumer.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures. FEMA is still conducting damage surveys in other areas, and may provide additional assistance to other damaged counties in New York.

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