To Our Neighbors in NY-14,
The recent storms in Puerto Rico and Florida are renewing the sense of urgency for investing in climate infrastructure, as many are still living without power and access to clean water after Hurricanes Fiona and Ian.
Representative Ocasio-Cortez has been active in demanding additional resources for the Island, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and other natural disasters. Just last year, we raised concerns about Puerto Rico’s electric grid. The infrastructure failure due to Hurricane Fiona was tragically predictable. We now have the chance to do something different. We can help Puerto Rico’s economy and vulnerability to climate change by building a reliable, sustainable grid that will create thousands of jobs. Below, we’ve included information on how survivors of Hurricane Fiona can apply for disaster assistance, in addition to other updates from our office.
Climate disasters are increasingly affecting NY-14, as with last year’s Hurricane Ida flooding, and we know FEMA’s help is often insufficient. That’s why, last month, our office joined Councilmember Julie Won’s office to discuss emergency preparedness for natural disasters like hurricanes — and also announced that we’re working on legislation to reform FEMA’s Individual Assistance program to help future disaster victims get more relief, quicker and expand eligibility to co-ops and other non-traditional housing. Our office is also available to assist with ongoing claims with FEMA.
In the meantime, we’ll continue to do everything we can to ensure that everyone on the Island and in Florida receives the aid they need to keep families safe. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact our office if you need assistance on another matter or to share your opinion on legislation. We can be reached online or by phone at 718-662-5970.
In service,
The Office of Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez
