U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand made a personal appeal Thursday to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in support of a major disaster declaration for parts of the Mohawk Valley, southern tier and north country.

On July 1, Senator Gillibrand toured the flood zone in Montgomery and Herkimer Counties, seeing the devastation first hand and meeting with local officials, first responders, families, and businesses.

In a phone call with the secretary Thursday, Senator Gillibrand detailed the damage in upstate New York and the critical needs of local communities. Specifically, Senator Gillibrand is requesting approval of New York State’s request for President Barack Obama to declare a major disaster, including FEMA Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for 15 severely-impacted counties in the state: Individual Assistance for Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, and Oneida Counties; public assistance for Chenango, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, and Otsego Counties; and hazard mitigation statewide.

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