FEMA officials visit southeast Queens

In response to repeated calls by local residents and elected officials, representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) conducted a tour of southeast Queens on Friday, August 17 to survey the damage that recent floods had caused.
Joining FEMA on the early morning visit to affected homeowners were Councilmember Leroy Comrie, Assemblymember William Scarborough and representatives of State Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith and State Senator Shirley Huntley.
“I want to thank FEMA and SEMO for responding to the concerns of this community,” said Comrie. “It is my belief that our city government is fiscally unable to fully address the entire scope of the flooding problem in southeast Queens. There must be federal and state funding to help create a solution for this problem — which is shamefully decades-old — and I am hopeful that this visit will raise federal and state awareness of this situation and begin the dialogue to realizing much-needed assistance.”
The two-man FEMA/SEMO team, accompanied by elected officials, visited several homes that were primarily affected by the torrential rainstorm of August 8. They assessed first-hand the damage to property and talked to homeowners about the need for federal relief.
Comrie has requested that city and state officials make formal requests of FEMA to provide assistance to these homeowners and business owners whose losses were not covered by insurance.
“While the FEMA visit is encouraging, I want to caution homeowners to continue to seek other avenues of relief during this crisis,” continued Comrie. “They need to file insurance claims with their carriers and file water damage property claims with the office of the Comptroller.”
Comrie has said that if residents need assistance with this or any other matter, they should reach out to his office at 718-776-3700 or call 3-1-1.