CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN DELIVERS RELIEF TO ORANGE COUNTY FLOOD VICTIMS

Congressman Pat Ryan Delivers Relief to Orange County Flood Victims

Woodbury’s Earl Reservoir Dam was built in 1912 and sustained severe storm damage during the devastating floods of July 2023; if the dam were to burst, there would be widespread damage to homes, roads, and utilities 

Congressman Ryan has consistently pushed to deliver flood relief for impacted Hudson Valley families, blasted FEMA’s prior failures to provide necessary individual relief, and made concerted efforts to provide services to impacted communities

WASHINGTON, DC  –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan and Town of Woodbury Supervisor Kathryn Luciani announced that the town will receive more than $2 million in FEMA disaster relief to address critical damage caused to the Earl Reservoir Dam during the devastating July 2023 floods. 

The dam, which was built in 1912, sustained substantial damage during July 2023’s severe storms and flooding incidents. High velocity flood waters damaged the walls leaving them unstable and structurally unsound. Fixing the damages is critical; if the dam were to burst, there would be widespread damage to surrounding homes, roads, and utilities. 

“Nearly two years later, our community is still feeling the impacts of the devastating 2023 flood. That’s why I’ve kept up the fight for infrastructure funding to both fix the damage and ensure we are better prepared for floods in the future. This is a monumental investment not just for Woodbury but also the entire Orange County community,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “By building back the Earl Reservoir Dam and increasing its resilience, countless families will be spared from widespread damage and fallout from a future storm. I’ll keep pushing to ensure everyone in our Hudson Valley community gets the relief they deserve.” 

“After the Town of Woodbury was severely impacted by devastating floods, I made it my mission to advocate for both physical and financial support to repair the Earl Reservoir and protect our community. In November 2023, as a newly elected Supervisor, I began working closely with FEMA to push for the critical assistance we needed,” said Town of Woodbury Supervisor Kathryn Luciani. “Now, nearly two years later, our persistence has paid off—our prayers have been answered. I am ready and committed to working with all parties involved to move forward with the repairs to the dam and to ensure the safety and well-being of every resident in our community. I appreciate all the help we have received from elected officials to make sure this was a priority in Woodbury for everyone in the community. This is a win! ‘I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot, together we can do great things.’ ~ Mother Teresa. Teamwork makes the dreamwork!!”

Immediately following the unprecedented storm and rainfall in July 2023, Congressman Ryan joined Republican colleague Congressman Mike Lawler in a bipartisan call for a Major Disaster Declaration, which was approved by President Biden a week later. Thanks to the funding Congressman Ryan secured, just four weeks after the floods on August 4th, 2023 he announced the reopening of the Popolopen Bridge – a key access point connecting Route 9W and the surrounding counties – which was initially projected to take months to repair and whose damage caused significant traffic disruption, and slowed economic activity.

Congressman Ryan continued pushing for additional funding and recovery efforts, emphasizing the need to repair damage to other bridges, dams, homes, and small businesses. On August 8th, 2023, Ryan announced additional C.A.R.E.S. Van stops specifically targeted towards delivering relief to flood victims. Later that month, Ryan invited then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy to come and tour the flood damage in the Hudson Valley as part of his continued effort to force congressional action to deliver relief. 

In September of 2023, Congressman Ryan – who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – demanded that FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell provide necessary individual assistance to impacted Hudson Valley families at a committee hearing. A week later, after FEMA denied Hudson Valley families individual disaster relief, Congressman Ryan slammed the decision, calling it a “fundamental failure by FEMA to accomplish their mission,” and vowed to continue working to find other avenues to deliver relief. 

In May of last year, Congressman Ryan filed the first successful discharge petition since 2015 to force a vote on the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which provides direct tax relief for Hudson Valley families impacted by the flooding. Following Congressman Ryan’s efforts, the bill passed the House of Representatives – marking the most recent win for Hudson Valley families in Ryan’s years-long fight to deliver relief. 

###