SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, GOLDFEDER ANNOUNCE $4.9 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO REPAIR SANDY-INFLICTED DAMAGE AT BEACH CHANNEL HIGH SCHOOL IN QUEENS AND CLEAN UP OIL SPILL IN JAMAICA BAY
Superstorm Sandy Floodwaters, Wind and Debris Caused Severe Damage At High School, Including An Oil Spill That Leaked Into Jamaica Bay
Grant from FEMA to be Administered by New York City School Construction Authority
Last week, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, and Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder announced $ 4,902,607.21 in federal funds for the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) in support of major Hurricane Sandy-related repairs and emergency protective measures at H.S. 410 Beach Channel High School, as well as environmental clean-up in Jamaica Bay. This funding will reimburse 90% of the post-Sandy costs SCA undertook for this project.
“These federal funds will be a tremendous help to Beach Channel High School, and the entire Rockaway Park community, in their ongoing efforts to put the pieces back together in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy,” said Schumer. “Beach Channel High School was hit very hard by the hurricane, and tremendous environmental damage was caused as a result of floodwater and heavy winds. This grant goes a long way towards helping defray the costs of repairs and will enable the school to get back to educating our youth.”
“This critical funding will go towards repairing H.S. 410 Beach Channel High School which suffered terrible damage from Superstorm Sandy,” said Gillibrand. “Federal investment is vital to help cleanup and restore Jamaica Bay and give our schools the tools they need to rebuild.”
"Beach Channel High School was one of dozens of schools across Southern Queens and Rockaway that was devastated by Superstorm Sandy. This new funding will go a long way in helping Beach Channel High School move forward with their recovery and ensure our children continue to receive the quality education they deserve," said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway). "I commend Senator Schumer and Gillibrand for staying on the forefronts of Sandy relief and I will continue to work with them until all every school in southern Queens and Rockaway makes a full recovery.”
The grant, which comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awards $4,902,607.21 in federal funds to the SCA for repairs and emergency protective measures undertaken at H.S. 410 Beach Channel High School in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Beach Channel High School, which has served Rockaway Park students since 1973, as well as the surrounding area, sustained significant damage during the hurricane due to an oil spill at the school and various debris. FEMA estimates that repairs at the school are just over 80% complete.
The federal funds will be going to reimburse 90% of the costs of the following emergency protective and repair measures:
· Cleaning up an oil spill caused by bursting boiler tanks that leaked into Jamaica Bay
· Rental and installation of temporary power generation, including the staging of 27 generator rentals for other area schools
· Rental and installation of a temporary boiler and fuel oil tank to heat the school
· Various fire safety installations and oversight measures to keep students and faculty safe
In December of this year, Schumer, Gillibrand and Goldfeder announced $1,861,901.33 in federal funds for the SCA in support of major Sandy-related repairs at P.S. 207 Rockwood Park. In addition, in September of this year, Schumer and Goldfeder also announced $5,277,661 in federal FEMA funding for the SCA to support repair work at various public schools throughout Queens that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy, including P.S. 43Q The School by the Sea, Q816 Temple Beth Elementary School (PS 256 Annex) and Goldie Maple Academy/PS 198Q.