FEMA Releases $13.9 Million To The Port Authority For Rail Cars, Vehicles And Other Emergency Measures
Release Date: October 17, 2002
Release Number: 1391-158
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New York, NY -- An additional $13.9 million was obligated today by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the State of New York to reimburse the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for destroyed rail cars, vehicles and emergency protective measures associated with the World Trade Center attack.
The Public Assistance funds come as a result of President Bush's federal disaster declaration after the Sept. 11 tragedy and are in addition to funding previously approved to cover overtime costs.
In announcing the release of these funds, FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh said, "On September 11 and every day after, the Port Authority played a heroic role in the response and recovery effort at the World Trade Center. FEMA is pleased to be able to help the Port Authority replace lost equipment and cover overtime costs as part of President Bush's commitment to the long-term recovery of New York."
The $13,934,260 in funding includes:
- $7.2 million for the replacement of seven PATH railroad cars destroyed
in the collapse of the World Trade Center;
- $2.7 million reimbursing the Port Authority for labor costs associated
with emergency response activities such as safeguarding the WTC site,
recovering victims, debris inspection, engineering support, staffing
needs at PATH stations, safety inspections, command center support and
other emergency protective measures;
- $2.7 million to create a temporary ferry terminal at Pier A in lower
Manhattan to ease daily commuting patterns for New Jersey residents;
and
- $1.3 million to assist the Port Authority in purchasing 107 vehicles, to replace those lost in the collapse of the World Trade Center. The destroyed fleet included Port Authority police cars, pool vehicles, command vans and captains' sedans, as well as specialized equipment and detailing-such as sirens, flashing lights, radios, etc.-required in many of the vehicles.
With these funds, the total amount obligated to date to the State of New York for emergency response and recovery work through the Public Assistance program is more than $1.4 billion.
Commenting on the grant, New York State Emergency Management Office Director Edward F. Jacoby Jr. said, "These FEMA grants support the extraordinary efforts of the Port Authority, which itself was headquartered in the World Trade Center. They played a key role in getting the entire metropolitan area back on its feet and moving last September."
The grants are funded through the FEMA/State of New York Public Assistance program. For this declared disaster, President Bush authorized FEMA to pay for 100 percent of the program costs. Public Assistance reimburses government agencies and certain non-profits providing a government-like service for eligible disaster-related damages and costs not covered by insurance.
Among the categories eligible for reimbursement are debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repair or restoration of damaged public facilities.
Last Modified: Friday, 03-Oct-2003 16:01:49