Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, Representatives Brandon Williams (NY-22), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) sent a joint letter to President Biden in support of the request made by Governor Hochul for a Presidential Emergency Declaration for the State of New York.

On July 15^th and 16^th, severe weather across fifteen New York counties caused over 400,000 power outages due to downed trees and power lines. An EF-2 tornado touched down in the downtown area of the City of Rome, causing significant infrastructure damage. Additionally, EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed in Hamilton County, Herkimer County, Saratoga County, and Madison County, where one Canastota resident tragically died. Finally, an EF-0 tornado touched down in Warren County.

“We support the State of Emergency that was declared for all of New York State by Governor Hochul as a result of this devastation. The Governor has designated the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, New York State Police, Division of Military and Naval Affairs, and the Department of Health, as response agencies. We support their efforts to provide much needed resources to our constituents,” the letter reads, in part.

Included in the Governor’s request is financial assistance for eligible Category A and B expenses under FEMA’s Public Assistance program for activities such as debris removal, sheltering, evacuations, search and rescue, and other eligible activities. Also included is a request to waive the $5,000,000 limitation on assistance imposed by the Stafford Act.

“It is more important now than ever that we come together, across levels of government, to respond to the disaster that has struck our communities. A Presidential Emergency Declaration would greatly aid ongoing efforts to provide relief to constituents who have been impacted, and I join my colleagues in supporting the Governor’s request,” said Congressman Brandon Williams.

"The severe weather we experienced in July caused significant damage and hardship for countless New Yorkers, including members of our NY-24 community. President Biden must promptly declare a state of emergency for New York to ensure our communities receive the federal assistance needed for recovery and rebuilding," said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.

“After the devastating storms that swept across Upstate New York earlier this month, I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting Governor Hochul’s request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration — a critical first step toward providing our constituents with the resources they need to recover. With severe weather events like these storms on the rise across our nation, I’ll continue pushing for a robust federal response to keeps our communities safe,” said Congressman Paul Tonko.

“As Western New York and the rest of the state recover from the tornadoes that tore apart homes, farms, and businesses, I will continue to work with my colleagues at all levels of government to secure support to rebuild our communities. A federal disaster declaration will ensure we have the necessary resources to restore local infrastructure and livelihoods,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy.

“My office has worked diligently to provide our Upstate New York and North Country communities with resources as we work to recover from the devastating storms that swept our district this month. I am now calling on the Biden-Harris Administration to issue a Presidential Emergency Declaration for the State of New York and unleash additional resources to help our NY-21 communities persevere through this tragedy and rebuild our communities,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

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