Albany, NY – Cuomo Asks Obama to Declare Disaster in New York State

Albany, NY – Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, warning that several emergency shelters had been rendered unreachable by flooding and that dams were at risk of failing, asked President Obama on Tuesday to declare a major federal disaster in New York State.

At Mr. Cuomo’s request, Mr. Obama declared a federal emergency in New York on Friday. A major disaster declaration would significantly broaden the financial assistance available to the state as it cleans up from the storm.

In his letter, Mr. Cuomo described four towns or villages — Fleischmanns, Margaretville, Prattsville and Windham — simply as “underwater.” He said at least 4,800 people were staying in 70 shelters across the state, some of which had been isolated because of flooding and could not be reached with fresh supplies of food and water. And he warned that two dams were at risk of failure: the Gilboa Dam, in Schoharie County, and the Vischer Ferry Dam on the Mohawk River.