FEMA gives Brookhaven $1.5M for Fire Island walkway repairs

The federal government will reimburse the Town of Brookhaven for most of the costs of repairing Fire Island walkways and a retaining wall damaged by superstorm Sandy, officials said Friday.

"Superstorm Sandy destroyed many areas throughout Brookhaven, including Fire Island's concrete crossovers that are used by pedestrians and emergency service vehicles," Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.

The walkways, located in Fire Island Pines, Davis Park and Ocean Bay Park, underwent emergency repairs after Sandy hit in October 2012, said Steve Tricarico, deputy superintendent of the town's highway department.

"We had to take action as quickly and efficiently as possible to get these walkways into some sort of shape so that folks could traverse them over the last two summer seasons," Tricarico said.

They are important thruways on an island where few are allowed to drive. "They are used to traverse east, west, north, south . . . in certain communities," he said.

But the battering Sandy inflicted required more extensive improvements. The storm shifted and cracked some of the walkways -- and even tore some out, he said.

Last spring, Brookhaven awarded a contract for the walkways and retaining wall, Tricarico said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has now agreed to reimburse Brookhaven more than $1.5 million for the work, Schumer said.

Tricarico said the reimbursement funds will cover about 90 percent of the town's costs.

Construction is expected to be completed this spring.