FEMA signals states and cities will carry disaster costs. The Council's flood and disaster bills are mostly still in committee

Federal disaster aid that New York has leaned on since Superstorm Sandy may shrink. FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton told state emergency managers last week that the agency would shift financial responsibility for disaster preparation and recovery to states and localities within about six months, THE CITY reported Monday, following a first report by Politico. "Federal dollars should be building greater capability, not creating greater dependency," Hamilton said. The administration has not formally announced a change.

THE CITY, citing the state comptroller's office, reported that New York State received more than $16.5 billion from FEMA over the past 15 years, for Hurricane Irene, Sandy, COVID-19, Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Lee. The administration has already cancelled $400 million in grants for New York flood protection projects, and denied the state's request for a disaster declaration after February's winter storms.

Jeremy Edwards, a spokesperson for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, told THE CITY it is "unconscionable" to cut disaster aid "without a clear plan or timeline." The city's Department of Environmental Protection estimated in 2024 that significantly improving resiliency in flood-prone areas would cost $30 billion over three decades.

Thursday, Oct. 29, is the 14th anniversary of Sandy, which killed 44 New Yorkers.

What our records add

This is a follow-up to our Oct. 20 story on the Council's proposal for a new coastal protection department. Here is where that bill and related ones stand.

The coastal department bill was heard and laid over. Int. 936, from Council Member James F. Gennaro, would create a Department of Coastal Protection in the City Charter. It has five sponsors. It was heard at the Environmental Protection Committee's Sept. 30 hearing and laid over, with no vote scheduled.

A disaster assistance center bill has had no hearing. Int. 221, from Kamillah Hanks, would create a city disaster assistance center in the Charter. It has 13 sponsors, including Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Yusef Salaam and Frank Morano. It has sat in the Governmental Operations Committee since Jan. 29, 270 days.

Other flood bills waiting since winter:

• Int. 45, from Joann Ariola with nine sponsors, would require a study of infrastructure risk in flood zones.
• Int. 44, also from Ariola, would create a small business disaster recovery and resiliency advisory board.
• Int. 662, from Nantasha M. Williams with 12 sponsors, would create a groundwater flood risk map.
• Int. 136, from Tiffany L. Cabán, would study voluntary buyouts and housing mobility for residents of high-risk flood zones. Res. 190, from Gennaro, asks the state for a permanent citywide buyout program.

The committee backlog. Most of these bills are in the Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts. It has 91 pending items, 75 of them more than 180 days old, according to our committee records.

What's next

No flood or disaster bill is on a committee agenda this week. The Council's next stated meetings are Nov. 12 and Nov. 19, and the Finance Committee meets Nov. 19.