SCHUMER URGES FEMA TO QUICKLY REVIEW & APPROVE FED FUNDING FOR THE TOWN OF HAMDEN TO COVER COST OF MAJOR REPAIRS TO ROADS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY TROPICAL STORM DEBBY

In 2024, Tropical Storm Debby Devastated Communities Across The Southern Tier & Upstate New York, Schumer Says Federal Funding Will Help Town Address Debby's Damage To Roads & Critical Infrastructure

Schumer Previously Advocated For Federal Disaster Declarations To Help Delaware County And Protect Local Taxpayers In Communities Like Hamden From The Crushing Costs of Storm Recovery

Schumer To FEMA: Help Hamden Rebuild And Weather The Storms Ahead

Today, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cut through the red tape and stop delays to help the Town of Hamden in Delaware County complete the recovery, repair, and mitigation efforts the town was forced to undertake following the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. For nearly two years, the Town of Hamden has worked diligently with FEMA to advance its over $5,000,000 request for disaster assistance and mitigation funding. However, bureaucratic delays and staff turnover at FEMA have kept Hamden residents waiting for federal assistance to support critical repairs to their roads and mitigation efforts to protect the community from future flooding events.

"The Town of Hamden has been on a long road to recovery. It's time for FEMA to put the pedal to the metal and help this community get back on track after the damage and devastation caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby," said Senator Schumer. "FEMA must move quickly to review and approve the federal assistance Hamden needs to rebuild its roads and ensure its infrastructure is ready to weather the storms ahead. I'll keep fighting to bring federal resources to Delaware County and shield local taxpayers from the crushing costs of storm recovery."

Schumer explained that because of flooding during the storm, the town saw severe damage along portions of Chamber Hollows Road, East Brook Road, and many other ditches and shoulders. Schumer said approving this funding would help keep the Town of Hamden and local taxpayers from shouldering the costs of repair projects that were necessary for protecting the town's infrastructure and local properties. These projects will address storm damage and make several improvements to enhance long-term resiliency. Work will replace existing metal pipes with properly sized concrete box culverts, along with new headwalls and wingwalls to provide additional structural support, improve drainage capacity, and meet New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) requirements. The project will also stabilize a failing roadside embankment where erosion has caused the bank to slide away from the roadway through the installation of soil nails. Additionally, the Town will restore damaged roadside ditches and shoulders in areas impacted by flooding, improving drainage, protecting roadways, and reducing the risk of future storm damage. If approved at the proposed 75% federal cost-share, federal investment from FEMA will cover $5,032,655 of the project cost.

Town of Hamden Supervisor Wayne Marshfield said, "The Town of Hamden is currently seeking vital financial assistance from FEMA in the amount of $5,032,655 for the August 2024 flooding disaster. With an annual Town of Hamden Highway Department budget of just over one million dollars, we do not have the finances to fund this without the critical FEMA funding. FEMA funding is crucial to us maintaining a safe and reliable infrastructure for our community."

Schumer has been a long-standing fighter for Delaware County's efforts to combat flood damage and natural disasters. After major storms in 2006 and 2011, Schumer advocated for federal disaster declarations on behalf of flood-impacted communities, including Delaware County, that would provide federal funding to enable places like Hamden and other communities within the county to recover and rebuild. As a result, local governments and thousands of property owners were able to apply for disaster assistance following these storms. In the aftermath of the 2006 flooding, Schumer successfully secured approval from FEMA to bring in temporary housing units for displaced residents, including those in Delaware County. In 2008, Schumer secured $300,000 in the Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriations Bill funding for flood protection measures in the Village of Sidney, which included infrastructure repairs to village pump stations and flap gates. With communities like Delaware County in mind, he helped author the provision in the Federal Disaster Aid Bill in 2012 that provided $200 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding to help fund key economic growth projects in counties hammered by natural disasters. Schumer then secured $3.8 million from that provision for the Delaware County IDA. This funding provided critical support to relocate Amphenol Aerospace, keeping them in the community and saving over 950 jobs. Schumer's efforts to secure disaster declarations unlocked the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (MPMG) fund, which brought nearly $7 million to local efforts to buy out over 100 flood-damaged properties in the Lower River Street neighborhood in Sidney for flood mitigation. In 2025, Schumer demanded FEMA immediately reverse its decision to cancel federal funding for the Sidney Culvert Project, critical for mitigating flooding in the Village of Sidney, helping save lives, and reducing the damage and costs from flooding caused by extreme weather events.

A copy of Senator Schumer's letter to FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton can be found HERE or below:

Dear Administrator Hamilton,

I write to urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to swiftly approve the Town of Hamden's federal disaster reimbursements under Project Worksheets #796462, #811378, #811378, #811380, #811384, #811386, #811388 (DR-4825-NY). The Town of Hamden is awaiting final approval for over $5,000,000 in funding to repair and improve the resilience of Chamber Hollows Road, East Brook Road, and Oxbow Hollow Road, as well as ditches and shoulder areas that experienced significant damage due to flooding in 2024 from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby.

In August of 2024, the remnants of Tropical Strom Debby brought heavy rain and flooding to communities across New York's Southern Tier, including the Town of Hamden in Delaware County. The Town began working with FEMA and New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYS DHSES) in 2024 to utilize federal funding to help pay for cleanup, repairs, and remediation from these flood event damages. It has worked diligently over the past two years to comply with multiple requests for information so that FEMA would approve and agree to reimburse the project costs of $5,032,655. These critical improvements will address storm damage and enhance long-term resiliency. Work will replace existing metal pipes with properly sized concrete box culverts, along with new headwalls and wingwalls to provide additional structural support, improve drainage capacity, and meet New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) requirements. The project will also stabilize a failing roadside embankment through the installation of soil nails. Additionally, the Town will restore damaged roadside ditches and shoulders impacted by flooding, improving drainage, protecting roadways, and reducing the risk of future storm damage. The annual Town of Hamden Highway Department budget is set at just over one million dollars, leaving the municipality without the finances to complete these critical repair and mitigation projects without FEMA assistance, putting their infrastructure, property, and community at risk.

It will be two years this August since the flooding rains and storm took place. The community has been extremely patient in waiting for necessary repair work and the Town remains vulnerable to further damage should another storm occur before repairs are completed. Given the importance of these projects, I ask that you promptly review the applications and swiftly approve the projects to free up the necessary funding that will enable the Town of Hamden to fully recover from the destruction of Tropical Strom Debby and better prepare for the next storm.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this important request. I look forward to hearing from you.

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