From Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s office:

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today announced that the Bronxville Union Free School District will receive more than $5.4 million in two grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair damage incurred during the April 2007 Nor’easter.

“When a natural disaster occurs, the federal government has a responsibility to help communities recover,” said Lowey.  “I am pleased that the federal government has responded to the urgent need to help Bronxville schools recover from the April 2007 Nor’easter.”

During the April 2007 Nor’easter, Bronxville received eight inches of rain in a 24-hour period, which resulted in the heavy flooding on the Bronxville Union Free School District’s campus.

Floodwaters entered all four wings of the school on the ground floor eventually reaching a high water mark of 5 ½ feet.  Damage was sustained to flooring, wall partitions, cabinetry and other millwork, doors, frames, trim work, wall lockers, wall mounted educational treatments, ceilings, mechanical and electrical equipment, teaching equipment, furnishings and more.

“One year ago, massive flooding damaged the entire first floor of our school,” said Bronxville Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone. “We lost over 100,000 square feet of space, not to mention hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of instructional supplies and equipment. Since then, so many people have helped us respond to this emergency. Our students, parents, and teachers have displayed resilience and flexibility. The community has been very supportive. Our elected representatives were quick to be on the scene and facilitate assistance.”

“We are profoundly grateful for this help, and are especially appreciative of the way state and federal agencies responded,” Quattrone continued. “FEMA’s expertise and responsiveness have been crucial aspects of our restoration and recovery, and we look forward to continued collaboration in the months ahead.”

“In the year since the flood waters devastated our School and the surrounding community, we have sought and received support and assistance from our elected officials and various governmental agencies,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. John F. Kehoe.  “The School has been able to reopen portions of the complex and we are in the process of restoring the other areas that were affected.  None of this restoration would have been possible without the continuing support of our Congresswoman, Nita Lowey.  The Congresswoman helped the School find the proper approaches to access the many resources of the Federal Government, such as FEMA.  The Bronxville School still has a distance to cross to get to full operation again, but we would not be able to function without this assistance.”

Bronxville will receive two grants from FEMA worth a total of $5.415 million to repair the damage that its schools sustained.