Island Park / Lawrence / Long Beach, NY - October 3, 2016 - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $4,600,000 in federal grant funding to the Island Park School District, the Lawrence School District, and the City of Long Beach for repairs made as a result of damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.
The Island Park School District will receive $1,479,372.48 in federal funding for repairs to Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School, which sustained up to four feet of flooding during Sandy.
The Lawrence School District will receive $1,455,083.75 for repairs to Lawrence High School, which was forced to close after Sandy due to extensive flood damage and corroded electrical wiring.
The City of Long Beach will receive $1,681,928.48 for repairs to the City’s Municipal Garage.
“This federal investment will help educate our students in a safe and learning-friendly environment and that’s why I’m pleased to announce FEMA funding to help pay for Sandy-related repairs at Island Park’s Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School and Lawrence High School,” said Senator Schumer. “Moreover, federal funding to help pay for repairs to the city of Long Beach’s municipal garage will help make sure local taxpayers are not left on the hook for these much-needed expenses.”
“Securing these federal funds through FEMA will help Long Island make necessary renovations to Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School, Lawrence High School and the Municipal Garage of City of Long Beach,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These investments remain critical as renovation efforts progress and we continue rebuilding our infrastructure on Long Island.”
“This funding represents the continued commitment from our federal government to support our recovery efforts and ensure that taxpayers, local governments and school districts aren’t forced to bear the costs of badly needed repairs,” said Representative Kathleen Rice. “As we approach the fourth anniversary of Sandy, I’m pleased that we helped secure these funds for the Island Park and Lawrence School Districts and the City of Long Beach, and I’ll keep working to make sure all of our communities get the resources they need to fully recover.”
“This FEMA funding will be a great help to Island Park, as our district and community are still recovering from the extreme damages sustained during Superstorm Sandy four years ago,” said Island Park Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Rosmarie Bovino. “These monies will reach our children by providing for building repairs and infrastructure improvements at Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School, which houses kindergarten through fourth grade. We are very thankful to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Rice for their work in supporting our students’ educational experiences and learning environments.”
"On behalf of the Lawrence School District, I would like to thank U.S. Senator Schumer, U.S. Senator Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Rice for their invaluable assistance in obtaining FEMA reimbursement for repairs made to Lawrence High School as a result of damage sustained during Superstorm Sandy,” said Lawrence School Board President Murray Forman. “Today’s tranche of $1.5 million in reimbursement brings the total reimbursement to the district for repairs to approximately $5 million. These funds are critical to the district’s ongoing effort to restore Lawrence High School to its pre-Sandy condition. We look forward to our legislators’ continued support as we complete the restoration of Lawrence High School for the benefit of the children of our community.”
“We would like to again thank Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand and Rep. Rice for aggressively advocating on our behalf and helping to secure this reimbursement funding,” said Long Beach City Council Vice President Anthony Eramo. “Much like the City’s garage, many of our facilities were damaged during the storm, and reimbursements like this have enabled us to rebuild a stronger, smarter, safer Long Beach.”