New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2000

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR ERIE, CATTARAUGUS AND CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES

Federal Aid Will Supplement State and Local Efforts To Counter Pre- Thanksgiving Blizzard That Dumped 25 Inches of Snow on Western New York

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has declared Erie, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties eligible for federal disaster relief funds. The funds will supplement state and local recovery efforts during the massive snowstorm that hit Western New York just before Thanksgiving.

"This is great news for those areas hardest-hit by the recent blizzard which dumped 25 inches of snow on the Buffalo area" said Schumer. "It is not often that Western New York needs assistance digging out from winter snows. But it is encouraging to know that when the drifts are this severe, the government is there to help communities return to normal."

The November 19-21 snowstorm - which took the Buffalo area by surprise - was the fourth heaviest ever in a 24-hour period in the Buffalo area. Winds gusted up 35 miles per hour and snow fell at times at the rate of 2-3 inches per hour.

The storm shut down area airports and wreaked havoc upon motorists, forcing them to abandon their vehicles and trapping the emergency assistance personnel driving behind them. School children were also trapped at school and were forced to stay in emergency shelters because they could not reach their homes.

Schumer requested FEMA help two weeks ago in a letter to FEMA Director James Lee Witt. In the letter, Schumer urged Witt to "aid the State of New York in its efforts to handle this storm. When the State applies for FEMA assistance, it is imperative that we are able to reimburse the State and the affected municipalities for the resources they have employed in their exhaustive effort to keep the communities safe as quickly as possible."

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