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FEMA funds 'obligated'

Government approves money transfer to State for LIPA, Nassau County DPW hurricane repairs, mitigation

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U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced $1.6 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding has been obligated for Nassau County’s Public Works Department and the Long Island Power Authority to recover from damages caused by Superstorm Sandy. (Obligated means the $729 million has been placed in the State's account to release to Nassau County as they submit pay requests that are approved by the State.)

LIPA will receive $878,331,473 in federal funding for repairs to substations and electric distribution systems, meter replacement and infrastructure mitigation. The County’s DPW will receive $729,637,539 in federal funding for pilot projects and hazard mitigation efforts at Sandy-damaged sewage treatment operations across Nassau County, including the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant, 32 damaged sewage pump stations located throughout Nassau, including Lawrence and Cedarhurst sewage treatment plants.

Capped Alternative Procedure Pilot Project is a program put together for Superstorm Sandy. It’s where FEMA, the State, and Nassau County agree on fixed costs to be able to fix the plant as the County professional engineers see fit. All agencies must agree on the costs. The funding, which was first announced at the beginning of the year, is authorized through FEMA’s public assistance program.

When FEMA obligates the funds, it means they have completed the applications review, approved the request and committed to transfer the funds within a certain amount of time. FEMA obligates funding for these projects directly to the State. It is then the State’s responsibility to ensure that the eligible sub-grantee (in this case, Nassau County) receives these awards. Following the State’s review process, and upon receipt of appropriate documentation, they will provide funds to the sub-grantees on a reimbursable basis. Generally, this takes another couple weeks, but it’s all based on the amount of work completed and the timing can vary.

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