Emergency repairs for flooding in southeast Queens

In response to the torrential rains that swept through parts of southeast Queens earlier this month, State Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith has announced that the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has initiated emergency repairs, installing 295 feet of storm sewers and associated catch basins.
“Once again, sections of my district have been devastated by severe flooding,” said Smith. “On the day of the last damaging storm, I toured some of the hardest hit areas within southeast Queens with Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Emily Lloyd, who, like me, recognized the need for immediate emergency action.”
“It is my belief that, while the city has to make some much-needed improvements to their strategic approach to cleaning catch basins, the reality is that our local government is fiscally unable to address the totality of this problem,” said City Council Deputy Majority Leader Leroy Comrie. “There must be a federal component to creating a solution for this problem and I am urging the federal government to begin the process of providing our city financial assistance in helping these New Yorkers.”
Smith is currently working with other elected officials in the area to secure federal aid to compensate local residents whose homes were damaged by the August 8 rainstorm.
On August 16, representatives from federal, state, and city emergency management agencies joined community leaders touring local communities, as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials sought to determine whether to declare the region a disaster relief area.
“We, as elected officials in southeast Queens, are greatly concerned about the flooding conditions,” said Assemblymember William Scarborough. “We hope the recent FEMA visit ultimately results in federal resources.”
FEMA officials have urged residents to keep all flood damage-related receipts, if possible.
“Those records will prove valuable in accelerating the process of reimbursement for any property damage residents may have incurred,” Smith said. “Many constituents have called my office regarding the severe flooding. I will continue to actively pursue all avenues for assistance — on a local and national level — to help restore flood-damaged properties in my district.”
For additional information, area residents may call Smith’s district office at 718-528-4290.