Capital District Times

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has urged the Biden-Harris Administration to support New York State's request for a major disaster declaration following severe flooding caused by heavy rain and winds on July 10th and 11th, 2024. The affected areas include Essex, Hamilton, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties.

In her letter, Stefanik stated, “These storms caused significant damage across my Congressional District, with sustained damages displacing residents, shuttering businesses, and compromising public infrastructure. Preliminary damage assessments suggest an impact of over $60 million, which our North Country communities cannot shoulder. State and local governments are overwhelmed by the sheer size of the damage inflicted in such a short period. Recovery efforts have been hampered by additional storms since the initial damage leading to long-standing impacts.”

Stefanik further emphasized the importance of a major disaster declaration: “A major disaster declaration is critical to restoring these communities. It is with this in mind that I request that you swiftly consider and approve the State's request. My office and I are ready to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deliver support and resources to our impacted communities.”

The full letter can be accessed through this [link](https://stefanik.house.gov/2024/8/stefanik-urges-biden-harris-administration-to-release-aid-to-new-york-state-following-severe-july-storms).