Congressman Langworthy Announces $3.26 Million in FEMA Funding for Erie County Winter Storm Elliott Response
Federal funding reimburses county for emergency protective measures following December 2022 severe winter storm
Washington, D.C.—September 30th… Congressman Nick Langworthy today announced that Erie County has been awarded $3,260,556.21 in federal funding to reimburse the county for emergency protective measures undertaken during Winter Storm Elliott, the severe winter storm and snowstorm that struck Western New York in December 2022.
The funding, provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), covers 75 percent of eligible costs incurred by Erie County between December 22 and December 31, 2022, during a storm that led to the deaths of nearly 60 residents and created an immediate threat to the health and safety of countless others.
“Winter Storm Elliott delivered a devastating blow to Western New York—one that will go down in the history books for its speed and severe impact,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “It occurred just days before my swearing-in and one of my first official acts was to make sure that FEMA stepped in to do right by our communities. This $3.2 million in federal funding will cover 75% of the county’s emergency response costs, providing much needed relief to local property taxpayers. We sadly cannot get back the lives we lost in that storm, but I will always fight to make sure Western New York receives the federal resources it needs to recover and prepare for future emergencies.”
The FEMA award reimburses Erie County for a portion of the $4,347,408.27 in eligible emergency response costs incurred during the storm, including:
- $779,534.21 for overtime for county employees responding to the emergency, including 555 laborers who worked more than 15,800 hours;
- $113,838.21 for emergency materials;
- $67,469.95 for rental equipment; and
- $3,386,565.90 for contracted emergency response services.
The county's emergency protective measures included search and rescue operations, operation of an Emergency Operations Center, distribution of life-sustaining commodities, maintaining emergency access on public roadways, safety inspections of structures and emergency medical care activities.
The funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and is associated with FEMA's disaster declaration for the December 2022 severe winter storm and snowstorm (FEMA-DR-4694-NY).