This declaration allows businesses, individuals and local governments to apply for FEMA aid. In addition, a waiver allows applications to be processed immediately. “President Obama called on the federal agencies to forego red tape and help as fast as possible. I am pleased to see FEMA doing just that, helping these counties recover from another destructive storm.," Engel said Friday.

The two counties’ preliminary damage assessment reports made it clear the stricken counties needed FEMA aid, said Engel. Both counties, as well as New York City and Nassau and Suffolk counties, were severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy, leaving hundreds of thousands of people still without power in all of the regions. New York, Nassau, and Suffolk were included in the original major disaster declaration.