Massive Funding Award Will Be Used To Replace Existing Boilers & Fuel Oil Tanks & To Prevent Future Storm Damage
Brooklyn, NY – On Friday, January 10, 2025, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) announced $28,707,507 in federal funding for the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation to replace the existing boilers and fuel oil tanks that were damaged during Hurricane Sandy. These FEMA funds will also be used to ensure that the facility is mitigated for future extreme weather events, which includes elevating the steam generating structure above the appropriate flood elevation.
“I’m proud to deliver this massive FEMA funding award to replace Sandy-damaged infrastructure at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a critical center for urban manufacturing and innovation with 500+ businesses along the Brooklyn waterfront,” said Senator Chuck Schumer. “These federal funds will be used to replace the existing boilers and fuel oil tanks, which will finally restore the Brooklyn Navy Yard to its pre-disaster condition, and to fortify the infrastructure against the impact of future extreme weather. I’ll keep fighting to secure the critical federal support needed to improve the city’s infrastructure to help combat damage from future flooding.”
“Hurricane Sandy decimated parts of our city and infrastructure, including at the Brooklyn Navy Yard,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “This federal funding will be essential to ensuring that the Brooklyn Navy Yard has the needed resources like boilers and fuel tanks to operate at full capacity. I am proud to deliver these funds and will continue to work to ensure that New York City is prepared for future extreme weather events.”
“Since Superstorm Sandy struck, I’ve been working to secure federal support to help the Brooklyn Navy Yard recover and remain a vital hub for commerce and economic activity in our city,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “These funds will finally repair the damage from Sandy and strengthen the Navy Yard’s infrastructure to handle future storms. I’m proud to have helped bring this funding home to ensure the Navy Yard can keep creating jobs and driving our local economy forward.”
“As one of New York City’s premier working waterfront industrial hubs, we are proud to be home to more than 550 businesses and 13,000 workers, but we also know that we are vulnerable to extreme weather events,” said Lindsay Greene, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. “This federal award will help us restore and modernize campus infrastructure that was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy and will catalyze short-term projects identified in our Resilience Strategy to protect the Navy Yard against the effects of climate change. We are deeply grateful to Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand and Representative Velázquez for this $28.7 million award and their continued steadfast leadership in protecting Brooklyn’s economy and people.”
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy’s landfall generated storm surge, high winds and heavy rain, resulting in extensive damage to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, including at least 48 inches of brackish water above the finished floor of building 41A. There was extensive damage to electrical motors, wiring, conduits, plumbing, insulation and control instrumentation associated with the steam boilers and associated fuel oil storage system. While the Navy Yard was able to resume operations at a close-to-pre-disaster level quickly after the storm, some infrastructure is in need of fortification, and these funds will help ensure that the Navy Yard’s infrastructure can withstand the impact of future storms.
FEMA provided this funding through Public Assistance (PA), which is FEMA’s largest grant program providing funds to assist communities after a federally declared disaster or emergency. The program provides funding for emergency assistance to save lives and protect property and assists with funding for permanently restoring community infrastructure affected by a disaster. This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
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About the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) is the not-for-profit corporation that serves as the real estate developer and property manager of the Yard on behalf of its owner, the City of New York. BNYDC’s mission is to fuel New York City’s economic vitality by creating and preserving quality jobs, growing the City’s modern industrial sector and its businesses, and connecting the local community with the economic opportunity and resources of the Yard. BNYDC’s vision is a vibrant and dense, modern manufacturing community where businesses are provided the stability needed to invest, grow, and thrive and where diverse candidates can attain quality jobs.