Governor Kathy Hochul outlines plan to rebuild NYC after deadly Ida floods

New York — After the remnants of Hurricane Ida killed 17 New Yorkers and caused extensive damage to much of the city, Gov. Kathy signed a major disaster declaration on Sunday, which will now go to President Joe Biden for approval.

According to the governor, to qualify for additional FEMA funds, the state’s damage assessment needed to meet a $30 million threshold. Hochul said New York far surpassed that with at least $50 million in damage.

On Tuesday President Joe Biden is expected to survey storm damage in New York City and New Jersey, according to the White House. “The heavens broke loose,” Hochul said as she recalled visiting the city in the storm’s aftermath. “One woman wept in my arms. An 89-year-old woman. She had nothing left.”

According to Hochul, the storm damaged at least 1,200 homes and completely destroyed some. “I am operating under the assumption that this could happen in another 10 days,” she said.

Governor Hochul is planning to update the state’s emergency warning system by delivering alerts in languages other than English. She also outlined a plan to dedicate $375 million to rebuilding infrastructure, which local officials will help inform. “They know more than anyone where the vulnerabilities are,” Hochul said.

According to Patrick Murphy, the state’s commissioner of homeland security and emergency services, more than 52,000 customers lost power during the storm’s peak in the Northeast.

He explained that the main lines are running again, but some customers are still without power.