A number of projects across the state of New York will lose funding as a result of the Trump administration’s cuts to the Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities program, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
As part of the cuts to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, more than $325.5. million in funding for projects that have not yet begun has been revoked, Hochul said, and another $56 million in projects where work has already begun is in jeopardy.
“In the last few years, New Yorkers have faced hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, wildfires and even an earthquake – and FEMA assistance has been critical to help us rebuild. Cutting funding for communities across New York is short sighted and a massive risk to public safety. Without support for resilience projects now, our communities will be far more vulnerable when disaster strikes next,” Hochul said.
The BRIC program supports state, local, Tribal and territorial governments in reducing hazard risks, and aims to support communities as they build capability and capacity.
Hochul’s office said more than $100 million in funding had been cut for programs in Central Harlem and East Elmhurst to mitigate flooding. The two projects aimed to reduce storm-related runoff and flooding caused by high intensity rainfall events by strengthening and improving stormwater infrastructure. Another $13 million to fund the Hunts Point Food Security Mitigation project had been cut. That project sought to increase community resilience and protect the city’s food supply by protecting two critical facilities against flooding. The project would also reduce flood risk to food, water, shelter and safety lifelines in the area.
The New York Power Authority would lose $24 million for Vischer Ferry Dam Ice Jam and Flood Mitigation Project that would have reduced the formation of ice jam flooding and flush ice from the Vischer Ferry impoundment. And in Buffalo, $284,000 in funding to help the City of Buffalo meet the state’s mandates for building construction and greenhouse gas emission reduction was lost.
“It is far more expensive to rebuild than it is to prevent damage before it happens,” New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said. “Mitigation is the best way to save taxpayer dollars and increase resiliency. These projects were created with the sole purpose of helping prevent further damage from the storms that continue to impact the residents of New York State.”