Money from the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery and the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program is expected to be released within months based on where projects are in the system, state officials said.
“As far as a specific date, I can’t give you an exact date,” said Zachary Richner, a NY Rising director. “We are not talking weeks, but we’re not talking years. There are a lot of regulations and we are working as diligently and as quickly as possible.”
Richner said that some communities are further along than others based on the work they have already done. Those projects will be processed first, while following federal regulations and conducting the required state environmental review. The $650 million allocated for rebuilding and revitalization after Hurricanes Sandy and Irene and Tropical Storm Lee throughout New York is federal money.
In the Five Towns, where the villages of Cedarhurst, Lawrence, Hewlett Harbor and Hewlett Neck are grouped together with the hamlets of Hewlett, Inwood, Woodmere and Meadowmere Park; $20.5 million of the original $27.6 million designated for the communities is targeted for stormwater infrastructure upgrades.
These projects include strengthening the bulkheading where Mott’s Creek is near Lawrence High School in Cedarhurst, increasing pipe capacity and upgrades in Lawrence and installing pervious paving instead of asphalt to allow water to flow into the ground and bioswales and rain gardens in Hewlett Harbor and Hewlett Neck to improve water absorption. In addition, $500,000 is targeted for a backup power supply for the Meadowmere Park Fire Department and a charging station for residents. Based on hydrologic and hydraulic studies drainage upgrades will be made in targeted areas.