Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Darrel Aubertine traveled to the Adirondack hamlet of Keene on the governor’s behalf to make the announcement to local officials that the state will pick up the 61-million dollars in local recovery costs facing 25 counties in the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.
Essex County is still recovering from Hurricane Irene and their local share is about 1-point-eight million dollars. Town of Keene Supervisor Bill Ferebee says the state action is extremely important, especially to small local communities that were devastated by, and still recovering from, the storms.
State Senator Betty Little calls the Governor’s announcement phenomenal news.
Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward notes that recovery efforts have used up entire transportation budgets in some communities.
Essex County Manager Dan Palmer says the move by the state will help, but is not a panacea.
Audio of Commissioner Aubertine courtesy of Mountain Lake PBS.
Governor Cuomo’s office estimates the total clean up costs from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee will exceed one-point-six billion dollars.