Garden City receives $4.5M from FEMA for Sandy

Garden City Village has been awarded more than $4.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance as reimbursement for the cost of debris removal after superstorm Sandy, federal officials said.

“This reimbursement for debris cleanup is critical in making sure that residents of Garden City are not on the hook entirely for the expenses,” Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.

After Sandy struck Oct. 29, Garden City cleared downed trees, fallen branches and debris strewn on village roadways.

The reimbursement will go toward labor costs and equipment used to collect and transport 29,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris, as well as 65 downed trees.

“Garden City suffered severe damage and its workers, officials and first responders worked tirelessly around the clock removing debris in the aftermath of the storm,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.

In December, village officials said they had spent more than $4.5 million on Sandy cleanup, overtime and other expenses. Officials had said they expected to be reimbursed 75 percent from FEMA and were ready to wait 16 to 18 months to get the money.