Governor Kathy Hochul has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major-disaster declaration for Nassau and Suffolk counties following the late-September nor’easter that brought coastal flooding, heavy rain and strong wind to downstate New York. The October 27 request seeks federal recovery support for eligible public costs on Long Island. It begins a federal review; it does not mean that funding has already been approved or that every household and business affected by the storm would automatically qualify for aid.
The storm affected the region on September 26 and 27, after New York declared a state disaster emergency that covered New York City, Long Island, Westchester and surrounding counties. State and local agencies documented flooding, wind damage and the expense of emergency operations. A presidential declaration could make federal money available for certain government and nonprofit recovery work, depending on the programs approved. The precise scope of assistance would be set in the federal decision and subsequent guidance.
The governor’s request focuses on Nassau and Suffolk counties, where coastal communities faced repeated high tides and storm effects. The state described the application as support for communities still recovering from the event. Federal disaster requests typically draw on verified damage assessments and local cost information. Those assessments are meant to show whether the severity and expense exceed what state and local governments can reasonably handle without additional assistance.
New York City experienced the same regional storm, although the new request announced Tuesday names the two Long Island counties. City Emergency Management reported prolonged winds ranging from 28 to 55 miles per hour and rainfall totals of roughly 2.5 to 3.8 inches across the five boroughs over three days. Coastal flooding was particularly serious in the Rockaways, City Island and Howard Beach, according to the agency’s September 28 report.
The city asked residents to submit damage reports through its official portal and to file relevant 311 service requests. Those reports help emergency officials map impacts and support requests for assistance, but they are not applications for insurance or a guarantee of reimbursement. Property owners and tenants should preserve photographs, receipts, repair estimates and correspondence with insurers. They should also use official government channels because disaster periods often attract fraudulent contractors and false aid solicitations.
A major-disaster declaration is different from the state emergency order that was already in place during the storm. The state order allowed New York agencies to coordinate response actions and temporarily adjust certain rules. A federal declaration can unlock separate Federal Emergency Management Agency programs. Public Assistance commonly helps governments and qualifying nonprofits with emergency work and damaged infrastructure; Individual Assistance, when authorized, addresses certain household needs. The governor’s announcement did not say that all categories had been requested or would be granted.
The White House and FEMA will now evaluate the submission. Approval may cover the request as filed, modify it or deny it. If federal support is authorized, state and county officials will issue instructions about eligible applicants, covered dates and documentation. Residents should wait for those details rather than assuming that social-media posts or general disaster information apply to this particular storm and county request.
For Long Island communities, the request is a step toward sharing the cost of cleanup and repair after another damaging coastal event. It also underscores the practical importance of local damage reporting: government claims depend on detailed, verifiable records. Until a federal decision is announced, the most accurate description is that New York has sought assistance and the prior live recovery work continues under existing state and local authorities.
Sources: New York Governor’s Office release; NYC Emergency Management. Reviewed October 28, 2026. Development: October 27, 2026.