Res. No. 909

Resolution calling on the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to support New York City's application for National Disaster Resilience Competition funding

By Council Members Chin, Treyger, Eugene, Gentile, Johnson, Richards, Rose, Lander, Cohen, Kallos and Ulrich (by request of the Manhattan Borough President)

Whereas, Superstorm Sandy hit New York on October 29, 2012 with unprecedented force, causing record breaking water levels across much of the City due to the storm’s size, low barometric pressure, westward trajectory and timing with respect to tidal cycles; and

Whereas, Superstorm Sandy resulted in the deaths of 44 New Yorkers and caused $19 billion in damages and lost economic activity within the City; and  

Whereas, Superstorm Sandy’s impacts on the City were devastating, as 88,700 buildings were flooded; 23,400 businesses were impacted; subway tunnels were shut down and flooded; 2,000,000 residents were left without power for weeks; and severe gas shortages lasted for over a month; and

Whereas, The storm highlighted the City’s vulnerability to coastal storms and projected impacts of climate change and rising sea levels; and

Whereas, The New York City Panel on Climate Change projects that by 2050, in New York City, extreme weather events are likely to worsen: for example, heat waves and heavy downpours are likely to increase in frequency, intensity, and duration and coastal flooding is likely to increase in frequency, extent, and height; and

Whereas, In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the City launched the New York City Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency which culminated in the release of a comprehensive, actionable plan to rebuild communities impacted by the storm and to increase the resilience of infrastructure citywide to prepare for the future impacts of severe weather events; and 

Whereas, In June 2015, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) invited several states and communities from across the country, including New York City, to compete in the second and final phase of the National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC), which is a two-phase competition that will conclude with the awarding of nearly $1 billion in HUD Disaster Recovery funds to successful competition applicants; and

Whereas, The NDRC encourages eligible communities to consider how they can recover from a recent past disaster and also how they will avoid and mitigate future losses due to disasters; and

Whereas, According to HUD, applicants to the NDRC are required to submit a detailed proposal for a “resilience-enhancing disaster recovery or revitalization project or program that addresses their identified risks, vulnerabilities, and community development opportunities” tying their proposal to the disaster from which they are recovering as well as demonstrating how they are reducing future risks and advancing broader community development goals; and

Whereas, At the conclusion of the NDRC, HUD anticipates awarding grants to multiple winning applicants in amounts ranging from $1 million to $500 million; and 

Whereas, In October 2015, New York City submitted an application to the NDRC seeking $500 million to complement $100 million that the City has already committed for resiliency measures in Lower Manhattan and the Two Bridges area; and  

Whereas, HUD is currently reviewing all NDRC applications and will do so until December 2015; and 

Whereas, HUD is expected to announce the successful proposals in January 2016; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to support New York City's application for National Disaster Resilience Competition funding.

BTM

LS 6097

11/20/2015  10:50 am