SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $2.7 MILLION IN FEDERAL FEMA FUNDS FOR VILLAGE OF COBLESKILL IN SCHOHARIE COUNTY
FEMA Funds Will Fund Critical Water Supply Infrastructure Projects
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,769,000 in federal funding for the Village of Cobleskill. The funding is being provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The grant will fund several critical improvements to the Cobleskill Water System in order to prevent the loss of water service and ensure that the system meets safety and quality standards. This grant funds Phase II of a two-phase project. Phase I was previously funded by a $481,680 federal grant. Specifically, these Phase II funds will allow the Village to construct new spillway structures on the Dow and Smith Reservoirs to ensure that they comply with state safety standards. The project will also increase the reservoirs’ storage capacity in order to ensure that the Village continues to meet residents’ water needs. Additionally, hazardous material will be removed from the reservoirs to ensure that water quality continues to meet state standards.
“This is a big win for Schoharie County,” said Senator Schumer. “The federal government must help ensure that our families have reliable access to clean drinking water. This federal grant will allow Cobleskill to expand and improve its water system so it can continue delivering safe, high-quality water to every resident. I’m committed to keeping up the fight to maintain water systems in local communities across the Capital Region and all of Upstate New York.
“This federal funding will help enable the Village of Cobleskill to make important water infrastructure improvements that will help protect public health, and increase drinking water storage,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “ As the village moves forward with this project, these resources will help ensure the Cobleskill Water System meets New York State water quality standards. I will continue to fight in the Senate to make sure our communities have the resources they need to maintain our aging water infrastructure and ensure continued access to clean drinking water.”
The purpose of FEMA’s HMGP program is to help communities implement hazard mitigation measures following a Presidential major disaster declaration. Hazard mitigation is any action taken to reduce or eliminate long term risk to people and property from natural hazards. Mitigation planning is a key process used to breaking the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. The HMPG is authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
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