SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE TOWN OF NEW CASTLE TO RECEIVE MORE THAN $8.6 MILLION IN FEMA FUNDS TO REPLACE, UPGRADE FLOOD-PRONE BRIDGE OVER THE KISCO RIVER DAMAGED BY SUPERSTORM SANDY

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced $8,680,000 in federal funding for the Town of New Castle in Westchester County to replace the flood-prone bridge over the Kisco River on the Saw Mill River Parkway that was impacted by flooding resulting from Superstorm Sandy. These funds, which are being awarded as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) will cover 100 percent of the cost for the project. This funding will allow the county to remove and replace the existing composite steel bridge that carries the Sawmill River Parkway’s Route 987 D over Kisco River in the Town of New Castle with a new, upgraded structure that is elevated and therefore more resilient to extreme weather events.

“It is not enough to simply rebuild and repair; we must also prepare ourselves for the next storm and the next potential flood. That’s exactly what this federal grant will do, helping to lower the risk of flood damage to the Town of New Castle’s bridge,” said Senator Schumer. “These much-needed federal funds will help Westchester County and the Town of New Castle to remove and replace this flood-prone bridge and upgrade surrounding structures to be more resilient in the face of future storms. Spending a penny today on flood-prevention efforts could save the federal government and Westchester homeowners a dollar tomorrow in repair costs.”

“Our community and local businesses need safe, reliable transportation infrastructure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This is a major investment that will help strengthen critical transportation infrastructure in New Castle. This funding will restore an eroded and decaying bridge, help to keep our communities safe and take the tax burden off of local families. By elevating the bridge above the Kisco River, we can prevent further devastation during future storms.”  

FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding under Section 404 of the Stafford Act, the federal disaster law that supplies aid to states and localities to implement long-term resiliency measures after a major disaster. The purpose of these grants is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.