FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         
March 9, 2011                                                                                             

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES QUEENS TO RECEIVE MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS TO COVER SNOW REMOVAL COSTS AFTER HISTORIC CHRISTMAS STORM

Dec 26-27 Storm Buried Queens With Worst Snow In Recent Memory, Shutting Down The City For Days, And Leaving City With Millions in Clean-Up Costs

Under Newly Announced Expansion of Disaster Declaration, Queens Now Eligible For FEMA Reimbursement of Emergency Snow Removal Costs

Schumer: Queens Deserves Funding Assistance and Now It’s Getting It’s Due

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer announced that President Obama has expanded the major disaster declaration for the State of New York issued after the devastating snow storm on December 26 – 27 to include snow removal assistance for Queens County. The original declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency only included assistance for Nassau, Rensselaer and Richmond Counties despite equally significant damage throughout New York City. During the storm, Queens localities struggled to clear roads, railways, subway and airport facilities while simultaneously providing emergency services to citizens. The designation allows reimbursement for emergency costs associated with snow removal in Queens.

“The Christmas snow storm left massive clean-up costs in its wake, but now Queens will get the help it deserves for the significant removal costs incurred in Queens after the storm,” Schumer said. “This storm was one of the worst New York City has seen in years, but by expanding the disaster declaration to include snow-removal costs for Queens, we can help make sure hard-pressed New Yorkers don’t have to shoulder these clean-up costs alone.” 

The violent storm that slammed New York City and the surrounding areas on December 26th and 27th left a path of destruction unseen in decades, leaving cash-strapped communities across New York with hefty cleanup costs. Over 16 inches of snow fell in Queens County, leaving hundreds of residents stranded, shutting down all of JFK and LaGuardia airports, and leaving hundreds of roads buried in snow for days. The storm immobilized ambulances and caused major disruptions to the Long Island Rail Road and Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where 500 A train riders were stranded by snowdrifts fοr seven hours. On top of record snow, the City was slammed by 30 to 50 mile per hour winds, creating poor visibility, and large snow drifts.

At the direction of the Mayor, the public is hereby advised that significant snowfall has been forecast for tonight. The public is urged to avoid all unnecessary driving during the duration of the storm and until further directed, and to use public transportation wherever possible.  If you must drive, use extreme caution.  Information about any service changes to public transportation is available on the MTA website at http://www.mta.info/.
 
Any vehicle found to be blocking roadways or impeding the ability to plow streets shall be subject to towing at the owner’s expense.
 
Effective immediately, alternate side parking, payment at parking meters and garbage collections are suspended citywide until further notice.
 
The Emergency Management, Fire, Police, Sanitation, and Transportation Commissioners will be taking all appropriate and necessary steps to preserve public safety and to render all required and available assistance to protect the security, well-being and health of the residents of the City.

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All,
 
Starting at 7pm this evening, New York City will be facing a significant amount of snowfall – currents estimates range anywhere from 8 to 14 inches with higher amounts possible in some areas. The heaviest period of snowfall will likely impact the city near midnight, with the heaviest snow band passing by 7am tomorrow morning.
 
City agencies are closely tracking the storm, and will be working throughout the night to ensure that roads are clear and safe.  While priority will be given to emergency vehicles and primary streets, we hope to work with our partners to make transit as safe as possible.   Residents with snow removal concerns, questions about school closures, heat complaints or other non-emergency inquiries should be encouraged to reach out to 311, local elected officials and community boards or to file complaints online at  www.nyc.gov/311.

“I have utmost respect for the Department of Sanitation workers, and I thank them and others for their efforts following the blizzard. I am disappointed and bothered by the lack of priority given to the residential side streets throughout our communities many hours after the snowfall. These streets remained unplowed and unmanageable for emergency vehicles, people on their way to work and those who had doctor appointments. Given the amount of notice that this sizable snow storm was coming and the hours that passed after the storm, having the streets not plowed was totally unacceptable.” 

 

“Over the past days, I have been going throughout the district and reporting to the Sanitation Department key areas that are in need of plowing. I have prioritized those blocks that have residents with medical conditions or seniors. As I continue to survey the district, if I can be of any assistance to a specific area, please call either district office with detailed information.”