BUFFALO, N.Y. — Four Western New York counties will received federal funds to help keep communities safe during severe weather.
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY-D) announced Monday that Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties will receive $1.65 million dollars to help support emergency response plans when severe weather is forecast.
“I am also proud to deliver $1.6 million in federal funding to strengthening Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties emergency response planning against snowstorms when it comes to vulnerabilities around roadways and public transit in Western NY. Buffalo and Western NY have experienced some of the worst blizzards in recent years from lake effect snow and robust planning for extreme weather before it happens is essential to keeping our residents and emergency responders safe. Today’s funding is about building a more resilient future for all of Western NY, and ensuring we have the infrastructure and plans to help our region take on any emergency and continue to grow," Schumer said in a released statement.
The money will be used to develop and coordinate emergency response plans between the four counties. The project is will look at any vulnerabilities around roadways as well as maintenance practices during lake effect snow events and how officials can better communicate with residents about current conditions.
The announcement came the same day Schumer also announced $39 million in funding to provide upgrades to the Grand Island Bridge to protect against earthquakes.
“With support from the Biden-Harris Administration and our congressional delegation, New York has made historic investments in our infrastructure,” New York Governor Hochul said. “These funds are critical to improving resiliency on essential bridges to Western New York's economy, and improving emergency response coordination in a region prone to extreme weather.”
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