Schumer Urges FEMA to Approve $5M for Hamden Storm Repairs
Nearly two years after Tropical Storm Debby damaged roads in Delaware County, Hamden is still waiting for federal reimbursement.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is pressing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to approve more than $5 million for Hamden storm repairs, arguing that the small Delaware County community cannot afford to shoulder the cost of rebuilding damaged roads and drainage infrastructure on its own. The request involves repairs following the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which brought damaging flooding to parts of New York in August 2024.
As of Schumer’s August 10 announcement, FEMA had not yet given final approval for the requested funding. Hamden officials have been working with FEMA and New York State emergency management officials since 2024.
Hamden Seeks More Than $5 Million From FEMA
Schumer said Hamden is seeking $5,032,655 in federal assistance for projects tied to flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby.
The proposed work involves several locations, including:
- Chamber Hollows Road
- East Brook Road
- Oxbow Hollow Road
- Roadside drainage ditches
- Road shoulders damaged by flooding
- An unstable roadside embankment
The projects would do more than restore what was damaged. They are also designed to make roads and drainage systems more resistant to future flooding.
Repairs Would Upgrade Culverts and Drainage
According to Schumer’s office, planned work includes replacing existing metal pipes with larger concrete box culverts.
The projects would also add headwalls and wingwalls, improve drainage capacity and address a failing roadside embankment with a stabilization technique known as soil nailing. Damaged ditches and shoulders would also be restored.
Those improvements matter because repairing a road after a storm is only part of the challenge. Building stronger drainage and erosion controls can reduce the risk that the same infrastructure will fail again during another major rain event.
Small Town Faces a Large Financial Burden
Hamden Town Supervisor Wayne Marshfield said the town’s highway department operates with an annual budget of only a little more than $1 million.
That makes a project exceeding $5 million especially difficult for a small municipality to finance without outside assistance.
Marshfield said FEMA support is vital to keeping the town’s infrastructure safe and dependable.
“We do not have the finances to fund this without the critical FEMA funding,” Marshfield said.
The comparison illustrates the scale of the problem: the requested federal assistance is roughly five times the town highway department’s annual budget.
Schumer Calls on FEMA to Speed Up Review
Schumer said Hamden has spent nearly two years responding to requests for information as FEMA reviews the projects.
He called on the agency to complete its review and approve the applications.
“FEMA must move quickly to review and approve the federal assistance Hamden needs to rebuild its roads and ensure its infrastructure is ready to weather the storms ahead,” Schumer said.
Schumer also argued that federal disaster assistance would prevent local taxpayers from bearing an unusually large portion of the storm recovery cost.
His office attributed some of the delay to administrative issues and staff turnover at FEMA. That characterization comes from Schumer’s statement; independent federal documentation reviewed for this article confirms the disaster declaration but does not establish the specific cause of Hamden’s application delay.
Tropical Storm Debby Triggered Federal Disaster Declaration
The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby affected New York from August 8 through August 10, 2024. FEMA identifies the incident as federal disaster DR-4825-NY.
On September 24, 2024, New York announced that then-President Joe Biden had approved a Major Disaster Declaration covering Delaware County and nine other counties.
The declaration made federal assistance available for public infrastructure recovery, including:
- Roads
- Bridges
- Public buildings
- Water and wastewater infrastructure
- Schools
- Parks
- Emergency protective measures
New York also received access to FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which helps communities take longer-term steps intended to reduce future disaster losses.
Why the 75% Federal Share Matters
Schumer’s office said the Hamden projects are proposed under a 75% federal cost share, with FEMA’s portion totaling $5,032,655.
Under federal disaster assistance programs, the federal government often pays an approved share of eligible recovery expenses while state or local governments are responsible for the remainder.
For communities with limited tax bases, that federal participation can determine whether major infrastructure improvements move forward quickly or remain financially out of reach.
A Broader Flooding Problem for Delaware County
Flood recovery is not new to Delaware County.
Schumer’s office pointed to previous federal disaster assistance following major floods in 2006 and 2011, as well as earlier mitigation investments in the Village of Sidney.
The current Hamden request highlights the continuing challenge rural communities face after severe weather: damaged infrastructure can cost several times more to rebuild than a town typically spends in an entire year.
That makes federal disaster programs especially important for municipalities where a single flood can overwhelm local budgets.
What Happens Next?
The immediate issue is FEMA’s final review.
Schumer asked the agency to approve a series of project worksheets connected with federal disaster DR-4825-NY and release the funding needed for Hamden’s repair and mitigation work.
At the time of his announcement, there was no verified indication that FEMA had granted final approval for the $5.03 million request.
That distinction is important: the money has been requested and Schumer is advocating for its approval, but it should not yet be described as funding already awarded to Hamden.
Conclusion: Hamden Waits for a Federal Decision
Nearly two years after Tropical Storm Debby damaged roads and drainage systems in Delaware County, Hamden is still trying to complete a recovery effort far larger than its normal highway budget.
The town says more than $5 million in FEMA assistance would allow it to repair damaged roads, strengthen drainage systems and reduce the risk of future flooding.
For residents and taxpayers, the next step rests largely with FEMA.
Federal officials will have to determine whether the projects meet program requirements and whether the requested reimbursement is approved. Until then, Hamden’s recovery remains unfinished.
Residents interested in the issue should continue following announcements from the Town of Hamden, FEMA, New York State emergency management officials and federal representatives for confirmation of any final award.
