Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a major disaster declaration in a press conference on Sunday in the aftermath of damage from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

The governor said that the state passed a $30 million threshold to qualify for additional FEMA relief. According to Hochul, there is at least $50 million in damages from, and 1,200 homes impacted by, the storm. 

“The human impact is extraordinary. It felt like a human crisis in another country, and this is the state of New York,” Hochul said.

If approved by President Joe Biden, the declaration would provide funds for temporary housing, crisis counseling, unemployment assistance, home repairs, and legal services.

“I want that in the president's hands and FEMA’s hands as soon as possible,” Hochul said as she signed the declaration. 

The governor said that she’s “motivated to take dramatic action.” She pointed to the parts of the state shattering record amounts of rainfall twice in consecutive weeks during separate storms. She said she’s not waiting for the future to take action against climate change, and that she is going to expect the next weather disaster could hit at any time.

“I’m not going to have someone tell me that these events are 100 years, 500 years, 1,000 years,” the governor said. “In my mind, after what I witnessed firsthand and the lives we lost - 17 New Yorkers no longer with us because of the weather - I’m operating under the assumption that this could happen in another 10 days.”

Hochul announced that she plans to spend $375 million on making the state more storm-resilient and improving infrastructure, including the city’s subway system. She said the subways that were rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy resisted this storm, but noted the many issues elsewhere in the system.

“I don't want to get that close again to the loss of life on our transportation systems,” Hochul said.

The governor said she’s going to work with local officials to distribute the money, saying those officials know more than anyone where the vulnerabilities are during severe storms.

Hochul added that part of the federal aid she requested is individual assistance, which will give direct money for people to rebuild their homes.

Seventeen New Yorkers across the state, including at least 13 in New York City, died as a result of the storm. Hochul said the state needs to do a better job at sending emergency messages, especially to non-English speakers.

The state also announced the launch of a new online resource - NY.GOV/IDA - where those affected by the storm can request assistance for food and shelter.