CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Erie County Emergency Services Commissioner Dan Neaverth, Jr. and Homeland Security announces the county has an approved FEMA Emergency Declaration, which will help the county get reimbursed for the costs of clean up from the lake effect storm. It will also help reimbursement for the towns, villages and cities who accrued costs.
Neaverth said they received the call at midnight on Monday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Saturday afternoon that she filed a request for a Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration, which would open up the state and local governments for funding to help support the response.
Hochul said she had been in touch with FEMA and added that she would sign the paperwork following the news conference she announced the action at on Saturday.
"I thank President Biden for immediately granting our emergency declaration request and for our ongoing strong partnership as well as Senator Schumer for his assistance in securing relief for New Yorkers," Hochul said on Monday after the declaration.
"My team and I will continue working around the clock to keep everyone safe, help communities dig out, and secure every last dollar to help rebuild and recover from this unprecedented, record-shattering historic winter storm."
She also provided an update on the National Guard deployment during that 3 p.m. news conference in Hamburg on Saturday.
The number of troops in Erie County, assisting with the storm response, has more than doubled with 150 now on the ground. Among other duties, they are helping dialysis patients get to and from their treatment.