US to pay NJ, NY emergency power, transport costs
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WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - The federal government will cover 100 per cent of emergency power and public transportation costs through Nov 9 for the areas of New York and New Jersey that were hit hard by superstorm Sandy, officials said on Thursday.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) Administrator Craig Fugate said that President Barack Obama directed the agency to provide direct federal support for power restoration and transportation operations for 10 days.
Democratic United States (US) senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in New York said they will push for full federal reimbursements for all repair and recovery costs related to the storm.
"This is a good first step on Fema's part and an indication that they know how serious the damage from the storm is," Mr Schumer said.
