US Department of Labor provides grant increment to assist recovery efforts in New York following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5 million National Emergency Grant incremental award that will fund temporary jobs to assist with continuing cleanup and recovery efforts in New York in the wake of damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.

While the communities of eastern New York have steadily worked to recover from and cleanup the widespread flooding and wind damage from these 2011 storms, the job is not yet done, said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. The additional funds announced today reflect the federal government s continued commitment to supporting these communities.

On Aug. 31, 2011, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared 28 New York counties impacted by Hurricane Irene eligible for FEMA s Public Assistance Program: Albany, Bronx, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington and Westchester. The declaration subsequently was amended to include Franklin, Hamilton and Herkimer. On Sept. 13, 2011, another FEMA declaration was issued for 14 New York counties impacted by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee: Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Schenectady, Schoharie, Tioga, Tompkins and Ulster. More information on designated disaster areas in New York is available from FEMA at http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=15533 and http://www.fema.gov/news/eventcounties.fema?id=15732.

A National Emergency Grant was awarded by the Labor Department to the New York State Department of Labor on Sept. 16, 2011, for up to $16,186,108, with $5,395,369 released initially. Today's increment brings the total amount awarded to date to $10,395,369. Additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the state demonstrates a continued need for assistance.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor s discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state s ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG.