Oyster Bay gets $1.13M from FEMA to cover superstorm Sandy sidewalk repairs

The Town of Oyster Bay will receive a $1.13 million federal grant to cover the costs of repairing hundreds of places where superstorm Sandy damaged its sidewalks and curbs, officials said Wednesday.

"As we brace for another hurricane season, many of our communities are still struggling to recover and rebuild from the damage caused by superstorm Sandy more than two years ago," Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) said in a statement.

Israel, noting the Atlantic hurricane season commences on June 1, urged New Yorkers to create emergency preparedness plans for their families.

The Federal Emergency Administration Public Assistance Program is writing the check for Oyster Bay, which Israel said will cover 90 percent of the cost of repairs.

Sandy uprooted scores of trees in Oyster Bay and, in some cases, the trees came down on sidewalks. Across the town, a total of 477 sidewalk and curb repairs were undertaken.

"We're happy to receive the funding from the federal government, and this represents work done immediately post-Hurricane Sandy," said Brian Devine, a town spokesman.

Since Sandy, FEMA has earmarked more than $1.3 billion in disaster relief for Nassau County, Israel said.