Hewlett Neck Mayor Ross Epstein said he is glad that money was allocated to solve a community problem, and he looks forward to the implementation of those plans. “This whole process has been very educational,” he said. “We have good committee leaders who are very informed. They have helped us every step of the way. Storm water drainage is a big problem. I’m happy that the state is recognizing that.”
Although the money has been appropriated, a distribution date has yet to be determined. NY Rising spokeswoman Barbara Brancaccio said money would be dispensed “by the end of the year.”
“The action plan that this [Five Towns] committee developed after Sandy was submitted to the federal government and approved,” said Laura Munafo, the Nassau County regional lead for NY Rising. “It has been assured that projects will move forward.
“In the implementation phase,” she added, “drainage and infrastructure studies will be done to help see what in the plans will work, and what will not.”
Frank Fish, a partner with an urban planning team, BFJ, and one of the Five Towns NY Rising committee’s experts, said that some key goals include increasing resilience, addressing short-, medium- and long-term risks and protecting vulnerable populations. “There are three steps involved in the rebuilding process: implementation, feasibility study and advocacy,” Fisher said. “We also must increase coastal bay protection, improve the capacity of assets on high ground — which means to preserve and enhance the evacuation centers and emergency management centers where people seek refuge and medical treatment — and increase access from high-risk areas to high ground, such as Rockaway Turnpike and Nassau Expressway.”
To learn more about the Five Towns committee’s rebuilding plans, visit www.stormrecovery.ny.gov/nyrcr/final-plans.