For Immediate Release
Contact: bowman.press@mail.house.gov
NEW YORK – Today, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (NY-16) issued the following statement to join community members throughout NY-16 who plan to convene in remembrance of Hurricane Ida and its severe impact on communities throughout New York.
“This time last year our communities were reeling from the devastating effects of Hurricane Ida,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (NY-16). “Hours after the storm had passed, I recall walking through the streets meeting neighbors whose homes and small businesses in Yonkers, Mamaroneck, Mount Vernon, Rye, and Pelham had been completely ravaged. The Saw Mill, Bronx River Parkway, Hutch, Sprain Brook, and Cross County Expressway were deep underwater. Basements were completely flooded, schools were swamped and in dire situations - loved ones lost their lives. Among those killed were Fran and Ken Bailie, who were Professors at Iona College. New Rochelle High School had a destroyed school building. Congregants in Bronxville were left with a flooded synagogue during Rosh Hashanah. The First Baptist Church in Mamaroneck was destroyed. The Community Resource Center in Mamaroneck was devastated, and the Rye YMCA was left with an uninhabitable child care center. Sadly, this is not the last time the impact of climate change will breach our state.”
“In response to Hurricane Ida, neighbors rallied together. First responders ensured everyone was safe and groups such as the Rye soccer team, Mamaroneck volleyball team, Mamaroneck Tigers, the Red Cross and Feeding Westchester showed up for neighbors. The incredible Mayors, Managers, Councilmembers, Trustees, and community leaders in the Bronx, Ardsley, Bronxville, Eastchester, Greenburgh, Hastings-on-Hudson, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Rye, Scarsdale, and Tuckahoe mobilized emergency resources to keep people safe. We worked alongside County Executive Latimer, Bronx Borough President Diaz Jr., and Governor Hochul to expedite damage assessments and get President Biden to declare a state of emergency. This statement of emergency allowed us to receive essential FEMA relief in order to rebuild our homes and businesses. In the following months that we began to rebuild, neighbors across NY-16 continued to show compassion and resilience. One year later the impact of Hurricane Ida is still felt, but we are collectively recovering.”
“Hurricane Ida hit already vulnerable infrastructure in our communities and shined a light on our immediate need to strengthen our roads, streets, highways, homes, businesses and buildings to withstand climate change, and to transform our energy and food systems in order to stop this crisis from worsening. Over this past year, I’ve joined community leaders to host the US Army Corps of Engineers so that we can begin to assess just how much our infrastructure needs to be improved. In Congress I’ve secured millions in federal funding for flood mitigation and flood prevention resources and most recently I voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which will invest hundreds of billions in making our communities resilient and in kickstarting the clean energy revolution. I’m committed to doing what needs to be done to keep our neighbors and loved ones from suffering from another climate catastrophe.”
###