Like the community we serve, CRC is located in Mamaroneck’s flood plains. Sen. Schumer’s support is critical to ensuring that we are all safe from future flooding…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
FOLLOWING LAST MONTH’S VISIT TO MAMARONECK AND PERSONAL CALL TO OMB DIRECTOR, SCHUMER SECURES $1.5 BILLION FOR IDA-IMPACTED ARMY CORPS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN DISASTER SUPPLEMENTAL; SENATOR SAYS NEW FUNDING CAN MOVE MAMARONECK PROJECT TO CONSTRUCTION PHASE ASAP
Schumer Secured Funding Through The Disaster Supplemental, And Following Commitment Secured From Acting OMB Director, Clears The Way For Stalled Mamaroneck And Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project Schumer Says Protecting The Safety Of Mamaroneck Residents And Property Must Be Top Priority For Feds And Fast Tracks Funding To Get Shovels In The Ground; Project Would Construct Flood Defenses For Westchester Community That Has Been Victim Of Severe Flooding, Lost Lives, & Suffered Hundreds Of Millions In Damages
Schumer: After Yet Another Deadly Flood Year, Mamaroneck Deserves Flood Protection NOW
After visiting Mamaroneck to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ida and making a direct personal appeal to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda Young last month to urge the agency to greenlight the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project (the Project), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that he has secured $1.5 billion in disaster supplemental aid to fast track Ida-impacted Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) construction projects. Schumer explained this means the Project could receive funding ASAP, bypassing several of the bureaucratic hiccups that have stalled construction for years. The Project has been stalled for the past two years by the Trump administration based on faulty cost-benefit analysis, according to Schumer, despite strong support from the USACE, which would provide the boots on the ground necessary for construction.
“Following the horrible flooding in Mamaroneck last month, which caused millions of dollars in damage, terrorized the community, and claimed the life of one person, I’m proud to deliver funding for Ida-affected communities, and am also pleased about getting the feds to finally greenlight the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project,” said Senator Schumer. “The past administration bottled up this vital flood mitigation project in OMB bureaucratic jail based on faulty logic, and I’ve worked day and night for the last month to bust that logjam. The federal government is one step closer to moving forward with the flood-protection Project for Mamaroneck and nearby communities and finally protecting a community that has suffered for decades because of severe flooding.”
“I want to thank U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer for recognizing that the residents of Mamaroneck, and the surrounding communities, need serious and immediate infrastructure help to combat the devastating flooding that has been plaguing the area for decades. People have lost it all – time and time again – during Tropical Storm Ida a life was lost – this is beyond a minor water inconvenience of a 100 year storm. Getting the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project moving forward is a lifeline that is desperately needed,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
“Since Hurricane Ida devastated our village we have made great strides in getting the Army Corps of Engineer plan to control flooding on the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers back on track. A few weeks ago the Office of Management and Budget told Senator Schumer that it will be supportive of our plan and the news today that the senator has secured $1.5 billion to jumpstart Army Corps construction projects in Ida-impacted communities, like ours, means that we are one step closer to shovels in the ground on this long overdue project,” said Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy. “We thank Senator Schumer for constantly fighting for the relief that our residents deserve and will keep working with him until we are over the goal line.”
Schumer visited Mamaroneck the day after Hurricane Ida hit the region, where disadvantaged residents living in the USACE project zone reported 14-feet of water flooding the area forcing them to evacuate their homes and seek shelter in the dead of night. There were over 150 water rescues, 535 flooded homes, 1,000 people displaced, and 310 abandoned cars. The Village has reported over $18M in damages and over $75M in residential and commercial damage. Five Westchester residents also tragically lost their lives in the flooding, including one in Mamaroneck bringing the total number of people who have died in Mamaroneck as a result of the persistent flooding to three in the past 25 years.
The Project was first imagined in response to a 2007 Nor’easter storm, which produced record flooding in the Village of Mamaroneck, equivalent to a one percent flood event. Senator Schumer travelled to the area the day after the storm to personally survey the extent of the significant damage. The 2007 event caused over $50 million in damages and impacted over 50 percent of total structures within the study area. The storm resulted in floodwaters peaking on the Mamaroneck River in approximately four hours, and in approximately six hours on the Sheldrake River. As such, the evacuation time for approximately 19,000 residents in the Village of Mamaroneck was severely restricted and created a high-risk situation. Over 40 percent of Mamaroneck residents required evacuation assistance prior to floodwaters peaking, including a large population of children that attended a school located within the epicenter of the severe flooding.
Following this, in March of 2010, a Design Agreement was signed by the Army Corps, NYS Department of Conservation (NYSDEC), and Westchester County for a Preconstruction Engineering and Design study. During this time, severe flooding again occurred during Hurricanes Irene and Lee in 2011. The flooding extended several blocks on both sides of Mamaroneck Avenue. The repeated disasters, including shoreline flooding from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, caused extensive damage and severely impacted the local economy. Following a $4.7 million Schumer-secured study by the Army Corps, the project was recommended by the Chief of Engineers and Schumer successfully fought to authorize this project for construction in the 2018 America’s Water Infrastructure Act. However, in February of 2020 it was discovered that the Trump administration would not move forward with the construction of the project because of the Benefit-Cost Ratio used by OMB, sparking community concern and outrage.
Upon completion, the Project would reduce flood risk for the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Basins and protect residents and business owners by constructing retaining walls and a diversion culvert. The project would also enable the deepening and widening of river channels, elevate structures, and remove/replace 2 vehicular bridges that constrict flood flow. The plan is estimated to potentially reduce average annual damages by approximately 87 percent and help reduce the risk of loss of life.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
FOLLOWING LAST MONTH’S VISIT TO MAMARONECK AND PERSONAL CALL TO OMB DIRECTOR, SCHUMER SECURES $1.5 BILLION FOR IDA-IMPACTED ARMY CORPS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN DISASTER SUPPLEMENTAL; SENATOR SAYS NEW FUNDING CAN MOVE MAMARONECK PROJECT TO CONSTRUCTION PHASE ASAP
Schumer Secured Funding Through The Disaster Supplemental, And Following Commitment Secured From Acting OMB Director, Clears The Way For Stalled Mamaroneck And Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project Schumer Says Protecting The Safety Of Mamaroneck Residents And Property Must Be Top Priority For Feds And Fast Tracks Funding To Get Shovels In The Ground; Project Would Construct Flood Defenses For Westchester Community That Has Been Victim Of Severe Flooding, Lost Lives, & Suffered Hundreds Of Millions In Damages
Schumer: After Yet Another Deadly Flood Year, Mamaroneck Deserves Flood Protection NOW
After visiting Mamaroneck to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ida and making a direct personal appeal to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda Young last month to urge the agency to greenlight the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project (the Project), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that he has secured $1.5 billion in disaster supplemental aid to fast track Ida-impacted Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) construction projects. Schumer explained this means the Project could receive funding ASAP, bypassing several of the bureaucratic hiccups that have stalled construction for years. The Project has been stalled for the past two years by the Trump administration based on faulty cost-benefit analysis, according to Schumer, despite strong support from the USACE, which would provide the boots on the ground necessary for construction.
“Following the horrible flooding in Mamaroneck last month, which caused millions of dollars in damage, terrorized the community, and claimed the life of one person, I’m proud to deliver funding for Ida-affected communities, and am also pleased about getting the feds to finally greenlight the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project,” said Senator Schumer. “The past administration bottled up this vital flood mitigation project in OMB bureaucratic jail based on faulty logic, and I’ve worked day and night for the last month to bust that logjam. The federal government is one step closer to moving forward with the flood-protection Project for Mamaroneck and nearby communities and finally protecting a community that has suffered for decades because of severe flooding.”
“I want to thank U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer for recognizing that the residents of Mamaroneck, and the surrounding communities, need serious and immediate infrastructure help to combat the devastating flooding that has been plaguing the area for decades. People have lost it all – time and time again – during Tropical Storm Ida a life was lost – this is beyond a minor water inconvenience of a 100 year storm. Getting the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Flood Risk Management Project moving forward is a lifeline that is desperately needed,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer.
“Since Hurricane Ida devastated our village we have made great strides in getting the Army Corps of Engineer plan to control flooding on the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers back on track. A few weeks ago the Office of Management and Budget told Senator Schumer that it will be supportive of our plan and the news today that the senator has secured $1.5 billion to jumpstart Army Corps construction projects in Ida-impacted communities, like ours, means that we are one step closer to shovels in the ground on this long overdue project,” said Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy. “We thank Senator Schumer for constantly fighting for the relief that our residents deserve and will keep working with him until we are over the goal line.”
Schumer visited Mamaroneck the day after Hurricane Ida hit the region, where disadvantaged residents living in the USACE project zone reported 14-feet of water flooding the area forcing them to evacuate their homes and seek shelter in the dead of night. There were over 150 water rescues, 535 flooded homes, 1,000 people displaced, and 310 abandoned cars. The Village has reported over $18M in damages and over $75M in residential and commercial damage. Five Westchester residents also tragically lost their lives in the flooding, including one in Mamaroneck bringing the total number of people who have died in Mamaroneck as a result of the persistent flooding to three in the past 25 years.
The Project was first imagined in response to a 2007 Nor’easter storm, which produced record flooding in the Village of Mamaroneck, equivalent to a one percent flood event. Senator Schumer travelled to the area the day after the storm to personally survey the extent of the significant damage. The 2007 event caused over $50 million in damages and impacted over 50 percent of total structures within the study area. The storm resulted in floodwaters peaking on the Mamaroneck River in approximately four hours, and in approximately six hours on the Sheldrake River. As such, the evacuation time for approximately 19,000 residents in the Village of Mamaroneck was severely restricted and created a high-risk situation. Over 40 percent of Mamaroneck residents required evacuation assistance prior to floodwaters peaking, including a large population of children that attended a school located within the epicenter of the severe flooding.
Following this, in March of 2010, a Design Agreement was signed by the Army Corps, NYS Department of Conservation (NYSDEC), and Westchester County for a Preconstruction Engineering and Design study. During this time, severe flooding again occurred during Hurricanes Irene and Lee in 2011. The flooding extended several blocks on both sides of Mamaroneck Avenue. The repeated disasters, including shoreline flooding from Superstorm Sandy in 2012, caused extensive damage and severely impacted the local economy. Following a $4.7 million Schumer-secured study by the Army Corps, the project was recommended by the Chief of Engineers and Schumer successfully fought to authorize this project for construction in the 2018 America’s Water Infrastructure Act. However, in February of 2020 it was discovered that the Trump administration would not move forward with the construction of the project because of the Benefit-Cost Ratio used by OMB, sparking community concern and outrage.
Upon completion, the Project would reduce flood risk for the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Basins and protect residents and business owners by constructing retaining walls and a diversion culvert. The project would also enable the deepening and widening of river channels, elevate structures, and remove/replace 2 vehicular bridges that constrict flood flow. The plan is estimated to potentially reduce average annual damages by approximately 87 percent and help reduce the risk of loss of life.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
SEPTEMBER 15 - OCTOBER 15
𝐀 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐂𝐑𝐂 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐂 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇
Each year during specially designated days, weeks or months, countries celebrate some aspect of their culture or history.
Today, to launch Hispanic Heritage Month, CRC has chosen to highlight its own Westchester community, a community of survivors.
We celebrate our roots as we also honor our clients, who risk so much to pursue their dreams for a better life. As someone once said: immigration is the sincerest form of flattery. Our clients flatter us every day through their hard work, their commitment to their families, their contribution to an economy that is the envy of the world, but most of all, through their strength.
The word “resiliency” has been much-used throughout the pandemic as our clients suffered most through it - however, resiliency to those who survived it means having no choice but to do what must be done to survive.
This month is about acknowledging and celebrating our Hispanic roots - at CRC our Hispanic roots are celebrated every day of the year as we lean in, advocate, teach, learn, and set the stage for achievements big and small, as we watch our community grow and contribute to a country that has become their new home. Despite all the obstacles.
Sincerely,
Jirandy Martinez, MPA
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Executive Director
914-835-1512
SEPTEMBER 15 - OCTOBER 15
𝐀 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐂𝐑𝐂 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐂 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇
Each year during specially designated days, weeks or months, countries celebrate some aspect of their culture or history.
Today, to launch Hispanic Heritage Month, CRC has chosen to highlight its own Westchester community, a community of survivors.
We celebrate our roots as we also honor our clients, who risk so much to pursue their dreams for a better life. As someone once said: immigration is the sincerest form of flattery. Our clients flatter us every day through their hard work, their commitment to their families, their contribution to an economy that is the envy of the world, but most of all, through their strength.
The word “resiliency” has been much-used throughout the pandemic as our clients suffered most through it - however, resiliency to those who survived it means having no choice but to do what must be done to survive.
This month is about acknowledging and celebrating our Hispanic roots - at CRC our Hispanic roots are celebrated every day of the year as we lean in, advocate, teach, learn, and set the stage for achievements big and small, as we watch our community grow and contribute to a country that has become their new home. Despite all the obstacles.
Sincerely,
Jirandy Martinez, MPA
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Executive Director
914-835-1512
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CRC RECOVERY FUND RAISES OVER $790,000 FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
As CRC and its community slowly began to recover from the pandemic, we were grateful that we at least had our homes. However, on September 2 the remnants of Hurricane Ida swept away entire communities and flooding forced thousands out of their homes – eviction by natural disaster. As a result of the generosity and compassion of our community - locally and even in other parts of the state - $791,200 was raised and will be used for direct financial support for victims of the flood. Close to $60,000 in gift cards was also donated to support the hundreds of Mamaroneck families impacted and displaced by Hurricane Ida. YOU HELPED MAKE THAT HAPPEN! |
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This relief fund will go directly to Mamaroneck flood victims for emergency assistance and relocation costs. Your donation is helping at least 200 local families with money to pay for the food or transportation they need, to replace the clothing and belongings they lost, and also to cover rent owed or security deposits and first month’s rent to secure a new home. Emergency assistance will be provided directly to victims of the flood. Relocation costs will be provided directly to the landlord of their existing or new homes. We will also use emergency assistance to secure new mattresses for families in need and to help with furniture delivery transportation.
Thank you, with all our hearts, for supporting our community through this difficult time.
Thank you, with all our hearts, for supporting our community through this difficult time.
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We are grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul, as well as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kristin Gillibrand, and Congressman Jamaal Bowman who all came to Mamaroneck to update us on Ida recovery efforts for our area, and to assess the damage done by the recent flooding.
As CRC’s clients, CRC staff, local businesses and many other organizations work towards recovery, we are hopeful that Governor Hochul’s visit was able to inform her decisions moving forward, as they impact the safety and economic well-being of our community. CRC is grateful to all those who have helped and continue to help us and our community, not just through ongoing flood recovery efforts, but through the last year and half as our community suffered through the COVID pandemic. You, dear friends, have been there for us and for our clients. Thank you, all. |
Ida Flood Recovery Continues
The families and small businesses in our community have experienced extensive damages and lost most of their belongings. The damages and trauma will take months to recover and heal from.
Help us support them with direct emergency assistance. Donate to CRC's recovery fund.
Our Center also sustained significant flooding, and we lost most of our workforce development, staff, and building equipment. But the loss is not just about the material damages; CRC is a second home to our community. In times like this, CRC is where they turn to for help and refuge. We are heartbroken not to be able to offer our Center's space for healing and support. Our own recovery will take time, but our team is hard at work with Crisis Response at different locations (a temporary location will be announced soon).
We thank all of our community partners for supporting us during this difficult time.
In Solidarity,
Jirandy Martinez
Executive Director
Community Resource Center
914-835-1512
Help us support them with direct emergency assistance. Donate to CRC's recovery fund.
Our Center also sustained significant flooding, and we lost most of our workforce development, staff, and building equipment. But the loss is not just about the material damages; CRC is a second home to our community. In times like this, CRC is where they turn to for help and refuge. We are heartbroken not to be able to offer our Center's space for healing and support. Our own recovery will take time, but our team is hard at work with Crisis Response at different locations (a temporary location will be announced soon).
We thank all of our community partners for supporting us during this difficult time.
In Solidarity,
Jirandy Martinez
Executive Director
Community Resource Center
914-835-1512
Take action
Over our 23 years in existence, we have grown from a community initiative and referral organization to one that provides comprehensive direct client services and programs. Through thoughtful planning, we provide a myriad of educational programs, case management and referral services and advocate for immigrants and low-income families in need. However, while we have a plan- we still need your help to get the job done.
134 Center Avenue
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
914-835-1512 | 914-630-7022
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
914-835-1512 | 914-630-7022