Islandia mayor pleased with FEMA response to Sandy

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have visited Islandia Village twice since superstorm Sandy to assess the damage and assist in filing claims, Mayor Allan M. Dorman said.

“I was very pleased with their response,” Dorman said during a briefing to the board of trustees during Tuesday night’s work session.

Dorman said the village incurred “major expenses” related to the storm, though he said he could not provide a monetary value. Dorman said the village provided 36 generators and fuel for residents during the extended power outage that followed, provided meals to residents for two days, rented a room at a nearby hotel and allowed village residents to take hot showers. Village workers, he added, cleared a “mountain” of debris from roadways.

“We have plenty of pictures and documents,” he said.

Dorman said the meetings have been “very productive” and “helpful” and he plans to complete soon the reimbursement application to FEMA.

He did, however, express concern about the level of reimbursement. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has asked FEMA to pick up the entire tab, but the agency typically reimburses municipalities for 75 percent of its expenses.

“We might have to fight” for the rest, he said. “I don’t know yet.”

 

SEE PHOTOSAerial views of Sandy damage