Yonkers: CITY OF YONKERS DENIED $5.2 MILLION BY FEMA FOR HURRICANE IDA EMERGENCY REPAIRS
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YONKERS, NY ~ Yonkers, NY - Nearly three years after Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on the lower Hudson Valley, the City of Yonkers is facing a major setback in its recovery efforts. Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied the city over $5.2 million in funding needed to stabilize three slopes along the Hudson River and MTA Metro North Railroad.

According to Mayor Spano, despite President Biden's declaration of a major disaster caused by Hurricane Ida, FEMA has turned its back on Yonkers and its residents. "We are deeply concerned that FEMA has decided to back away from its commitment to assist residents during and after major disasters, like the one we experienced," said Mayor Spano.

The damage caused by Hurricane Ida in September 2021 was extensive, with runoff from Warburton Avenue pounding water flow channeled through a culvert on New York State property. This resulted in substantial damage to the slope supporting Warburton Avenue, nearby homes, and a residential building. The force of the water also washed thousands of tons of soil down onto the Metro North Hudson Line railroad track, causing a four-day closure of one of the busiest commuter rail lines in the country.

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Mayor Spano emphasized that FEMA's lack of action not only puts Yonkers at risk but also exposes Metro North's vulnerability to future storm damage along its tracks. "The infrastructure repairs necessary to shore up these slopes are imperative in order to prevent our economy and livelihood from coming to a screeching halt once again," he stated.

The City of Yonkers first applied for FEMA assistance and filed two appeals over the last three years but was notified this week that their request had been denied. "After repeated amendments and appeals based on FEMA's initial comments, it is clear that they have failed to uphold their mission and have failed the people of Yonkers," said Mayor Spano. "Instead, Yonkers taxpayers are left footing the bill of an empty promise."

Mayor Spano also raised concerns about what will happen if a similar disaster strikes in the future. "The question now remains, what will FEMA do when, not if, this happens again? I am afraid that loss of property may be the least of the devastation," he added.

The denial of funding from FEMA has put a strain on Yonkers' recovery efforts and has left the city to handle the storm's aftermath on its own. With no assistance from FEMA, Yonkers taxpayers will have to bear the burden of funding emergency repairs to stabilize these slopes and prevent further damage.

As Yonkers continues to rebuild and recover from Hurricane Ida, Mayor Spano is calling on FEMA to fulfill its commitment to assist communities in times of disaster. The future of not just Yonkers but also the entire Hudson Valley region depends on it.

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