FEMA Funds Environmental Testing, Cleaning and Emergency Educational Supplies and Services for NYU
Release Date: September 17, 2002
Release Number: 1391-152
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New York, NY -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today obligated $5.9 million to the state of New York to assist New York University recover from damages resulting from the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
"The recovery of Lower Manhattan is dependent not only on restoring lost and damaged infrastructure and public services, but on ensuring that we address extraordinary and far-reaching effects that the World Trade Center attack had on New York," said FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh. "We continue to work closely with the state of New York and its congressional delegation to bring a flexible and innovative approach to the Public Assistance program so that we may help nonprofit institutions such as NYU."
"With assistance from the New York Congressional delegation, FEMA looked at all we had done and joined in our 'chain of support,' said NYU President John Sexton. "The University is grateful for the advocacy on our behalf taken up by our friends in Congress, by the efforts by our friends at FEMA, and by the determined work of those University administrators who were involved with this."
The $5,917,917 in grants to New York University include:
- $4.8 million to cover the costs of exterior and interior cleanup of two buildings at 90 and 100 Trinity Place in lower Manhattan. Owned by NYU but leased to the New York City Board of Education, the structures are used as the High School for Leadership and Public Service and the High School for Economics and Finance.
Expenses reimbursed by the grant include removal of dust and debris from exterior surfaces and all interior areas; complete cleaning of the ventilation systems of each building; environmental sampling, testing and asbestos abatement work; repairs made to mechanical systems following the buildings' temporary use as support centers by rescue workers; and repair work on large granite panels at the 90 Trinity Place building that were loosened by the collapse of the nearby World Trade Center (WTC) buildings.
- $1.1 million reimbursing the university for emergency supplies and services needed to help displaced students and faculty cope with the immediate aftermath of the disaster. This includes temporary shelter, food and telephone services at NYU's Jerome S. Coles Sports and Recreational Facility, which served as a multipurpose emergency facility; emergency clothing stipends for more than 1,800 students; and replacement textbooks and computers for students temporarily unable to gain access to their dormitories following the WTC attacks. The vacated dormitories-located at 25 Broad St., 15 Cliff St., 99 John St., 200 Rector Pl., 200 Water St. and 1 West St.-were also cleaned and tested for asbestos contamination under provisions of the FEMA grant.
"This funding will assist NYU in continuing its vital mission to educate our citizens in a safe, secure environment," said Edward F. Jacoby, Jr., Director of the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO).
The grant is funded through FEMA's Public Assistance program. President Bush authorized FEMA to pay for 100 percent of the program costs following his disaster declaration after the Sept. 11 tragedy. Public Assistance reimburses government agencies and certain non-profits for eligible disaster-related damages and costs not covered by insurance. Among the categories eligible for reimbursement are debris removal, emergency protective measures and the repair or restoration of damaged public facilities.
Last Modified: Friday, 03-Oct-2003 16:19:59