SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE TOWN OF PRATTSVILLE WILL RECEIVE $17.6 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO UPGRADE FLOOD-PRONE BRIDGE OVER SCHOHARIE CREEK IN GREENE COUNTY
Town Of Prattsville In Greene County Will Use Funds To Upgrade Bridge On NY Route 23 To Enhance Resiliency & Protect Area From Future Flooding
Schumer, Gillibrand: Strong, Safe Infrastructure Is Key To New York’s Economy And Safety Of Communities
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $17,600,000 in federal funding for the Town of Prattsville in Greene County to upgrade and enhance the resiliency of its flood-prone bridge over the Schoharie Creek on NY Route 23. Specifically, the $17.6 million will be used to elevate the bridge and protect its foundation from future threats of repeated flooding. 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.
“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 Prattsville’s bridge,” said Senator Schumer. “These much-needed federal funds will help Greene County scour this flood-prone bridge and upgrade its structure so it will be more resilient in the face of future storms. Spending a penny today on flood-prevention efforts could save the federal government and Prattsville homeowners a dollar tomorrow in repair costs. Investing in local infrastructure creates jobs in the short term and bolsters our economy in the long term by enabling us to move goods, people and tourists safely and efficiently.”
“This is a major investment that will help strengthen critical transportation infrastructure here in Greene County,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our bridges are heavily traveled and we need to modernize and upgrade them. Hurricanes Irene and Lee had a devastating impact on the Schoharie Valley and these FEMA funds help safeguard our bridges against future flooding and allow for critical repairs to keep commuters and communities safe. This comprehensive project will help replace eroded and decaying bridges to keep drivers safe while taking the tax burden off of local families.”
Kory P O'Hara, Prattsville Town Supervisor said, “Replacing the route 23 bridge will greatly improved the flood levels in town and mitigating flood related issues. This is a critical part is the town's long term recovery efforts to rebuild better and stronger than before. We truly appreciate the efforts of the State, our federal and state representatives for helping make this happen.”
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.
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