Crowley Bags Fed Funds For Storm Damage
BY LIZ GOFF

At a press conference held yesterday, Sept. 4 are left to right:Kathleen Conway, Woodside resident who was forced to evacuate her home; Deputy Borough President Karen Koslowitz, City Councilman Eric Gioia, Congressman Joseph Crowley, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey.

Queens received federal disaster funding on August 31, more than three weeks after parts of the borough were ravaged by a major storm and tornado that damaged more than 1,300 properties.

Distraught residents had just about given up waiting for President George W. Bush to decide if Queens storm victims would get federal aid when Congressmember Joseph Crowley made a lastditch call to the White House.

Crowley said he made the call after he became concerned that the administration would not act at all on the part of Queens storm victims.

"I think I was concerned that they wouldn't give us any relief, because of all the other disasters that were going on all over the country," said Crowley. "I simply emphasized that I live in the area and that these are people who have never been affected by this type of natural disaster. I made it clear that these people had never received federal assistance and that they weren't just looking for a handout."

Bush responded by declaring parts of Queens a "major disaster" area, opening a floodgate of federal funds that are now available for temporary housing, home repairs and rebuilding, low-cost loans for repair of uninsured property, replacement of furniture and clothing, medical expenses and home improvements to guard against future disasters.

Officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said victims of the August 8 storm can apply immediately for help by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or going online at www.fema.gov.

FEMA spokesperson Barbara Lynch said she and others who visited Queens with city and state officials after the storm were shocked by the damage they encountered. Lynch said damage to Queens properties was much more widespread than in other parts of the city and that FEMA representatives had counted at least 460 homes with major damage in the borough.

"The damage in Brooklyn was contained," Lynch said. "Damage in Queens was spread through neighborhoods all over the borough."

Governor Eliot Spitzer formally requested federal aid for storm-ravaged areas in New York state on August 20.

In a letter to President Bush requesting the aid, Spitzer estimated that 1,359 homes in Queens suffered damage from the freak storm, compared with 189 homes in Brooklyn and 21 on Staten Island.

Crowley, whose own Woodside home suffered more than $10,000 in damages, had argued that flash flooding caused by torrential rains crippled the city's subway system and overwhelmed sewer systems throughout Queens, flooding homes and businesses, toppling trees and sending refrigerators and cars floating along local avenues.

Crowley said a majority of people who live in his Queens district were told by insurance companies that they are not covered for the damage.

"They were told they do not live in a flood area," said Crowley. "The insurance companies said they would not pay."

City Councilmember Melinda Katz, whose Forest Hills home was flooded, blasted the city for failing to maintain its sewers.

"The city needs to take some of the responsibility," Katz said. "Clearly, the city sewers couldn't take all that water."

A Crowley spokesperson said the congressmember is relieved that Bush made the disaster declaration. "Congressman Crowley is relieved and glad that residents, still reeling from the severe storm, can now look forward to rebuilding their homes and lives, thanks to the federal funding," Rohit Mahajan said.