Long Island’s congressional representatives sent a letter to House leaders in response to Hurricane Sandy Tuesday, putting aside campaign-season rhetoric to appeal for federal disaster recovery aid.
The letter, signed by representatives Peter King (R-Massapequa), Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola), Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights), and Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills), appealed to Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to ensure that federal agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have sufficient resources to help state and local governments repair storm damage.
“It is clear that damages to private property and public infrastructure across the region far exceed local governments’ ability to meet the needs of those affected,” wrote the congresspersons. “In our Long Island congressional districts, entire neighborhoods are flooded, the coastline is severely eroded, many roadways and bridges are in peril, and hundreds of our constituents cannot return to their homes.”
The letter urged Congress to make disaster relief its first priority once the chamber reconvenes following its fall recess.
It also called on the House to equip the Small Business Administration and the Department of Agriculture to provide assistance to businesses, farmers and fishermen affected by the storm.
State assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) also responded to the storm Tuesday, answering 311 calls from residents at North Hempstead’s Town Hall in Manhasset, according to spokesperson Emily Frankel.
Schimel also took part in conference calls with the Long Island Power Authority and emergency response organizations, said Frankel, who added that coordination between local, regional and state authorities was an essential part of the recovery process.
“They’re relying on the counties as well as the towns to really identify these high need areas,” Frankel said.
Schimel told the Great Neck News that North Hempstead had the only 311 call center on Long Island, and that she and other volunteers fielded calls from affected towns across the Island.
State Sen. Jack Martins could not be reached for comment.
