Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke commended the introduction of the $100-million Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program, which will support efforts to protect communities such as Sheepshead Bay and Gerritsen Beach that are located on the Atlantic Coast from the threat of natural disasters.

Grants of $250,000 to $1 million are available to investigate, improve, or create wetlands, beaches and other natural systems to protect communities as well as fish and wildlife species and habitats from the damage of future storms and other natural disasters. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will administered the program, and start accepting applications today.

“In the year since the flood waters of Hurricane Sandy displaced thousands of families in Brooklyn, the efforts of federal, state, and local officials, of non-profit organizations, and of volunteers have resolved many of the problems that existed. Many of the small businesses that were closed by the storm have re-opened, families have returned to their homes, and our civic institutions – such as the Gerritsen Beach Library – are once more in service. But there are many problems that remain – families that cannot afford the increased cost of flood insurance and insurance companies that have refused to pay for the full cost of repairs.

“In addition, we have a responsibility to protect our communities from storms that will occur in the future.  By restoring the coastline, we will have the ability to reduce the threat of flooding and, therefore, the displacement of families and children that occurred in Hurricane Sandy.”

For more information on the Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program:http://www.nfwf.org/hurricanesandy/Pages/home.aspx.    

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U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Small Business, Ethics, and Homeland Security, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. She represents many neighborhoods in central and southern Brooklyn, NY which include Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, parts of Park Slope and Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.