Hayworth named co-chair of Hurricane Irene coalition

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nan Hayworth (NY-19) will co-chair the newly formed bipartisan Hurricane Irene coalition. The coalition was formed after a meeting hosted by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), According to the press release from Hayworth’s office announcing the appointment, the coalition will serve two purposes: It will work to ensure the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has the resources it needs to support the recovery effort. Second, working with FEMA and other federal agencies, it will serve as a resource for members to support recovery efforts in their districts. “Forming the coalition will allow us as Members of Congress to come together across the aisle to provide both the best immediate relief we can for our constituents and, more than that, do the meaningful planning for the longer term as we recover from this catastrophe,” Hayworth said in the press release. “The coalition will prepare for future events to minimize loss of life, loss of property, and damage to our communities.” Hayworth’s 19th Congressional District includes the Orange County communities of Port Jervis, Blooming Grove, Chester, Cornwall, Deerpark, Greenville, Goshen, Highlands, Hamptonburgh, Mount Hope, Minisink, Monroe, New Windsor, Tuxedo, Woodbury, Wallkill, Warwick and Wawayanda. County officials estimate damage from Irene and the subsequent flooding to be the county’s agricultural industry to be more than $40 million. Officials are still calculating the widespread damage to roads, bridges and infrastructure.