By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and other government leaders will be meeting with FEMA representatives Friday for applicant briefings. Brown says he is very confident that the city will receive proper reimbursements for damage and clean up of October's surprise storm.
Mayor Brown says he expects to apply today for immediate needs funding with FEMA. Brown says the city must deliver documents that clearly point out how much it has spent on storm recovery efforts.
FEMA has offered guidance to the city on what areas are reimbursable. Brown says the city will be spending storm aid on expenditures such as the hiring private contractors. It will also be used to help pay hefty overtime costs for city workers.
The Mayor says as soon as he receives FEMA funds, the city will work to pay off storm bills. He would like to close the books on storm costs as soon as possible.
Initial city storm tabs were placed at $35 million. But Mayor Brown says that number is now much higher.
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