"With President Bush's decision to declare a major disaster for the State of New York, individuals and businesses will receive much-needed federal assistance to help recover from last month's tornados, severe storms and flooding. The decision makes federal funding available to affected residents and businesses in Queens County, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs and low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance. The City's Office of Emergency Management will work with Marianne Jackson, the Federal Coordinating Officer, to ensure that all affected residents and businesses in Queens receive the help they need to put their lives back together.

"I want to thank the President and FEMA Administrator David Paulison for recognizing the need for federal assistance, as well as New York's Congressional delegation, especially Congressman Joe Crowley and his staff, for their help in voicing the City's needs in Washington. I also would like to thank Governor Spitzer and State Emergency Management Director John Gibb for their help. While FEMA's decision is welcome, portions of Brooklyn and Staten Island were also devastated by last month's extraordinary storms, and the City will work with FEMA and Congressman Vito Fossella to try to bring federal aid to residents and businesses in those boroughs as well."