WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY), chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, issued the following statement on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene:

"In the face of unpredictable disasters and threats, our priority must be to mitigate damages and expedite the recovery of critical infrastructure and telecommunications networks. Maintaining open lines of emergency communication is essential to protecting lives and restoring order. It's in moments like these that the importance of resiliency and emergency preparedness becomes most apparent.
"The Subcommittees on Emergency Management and Technology and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection are closely monitoring both the impacts of Hurricane Helene and the federal government's response to any homeland security or public safety risks arising from the damage. As Members representing Long Island, we are all too familiar with the devastation that major storms can cause. Our approach today is informed by the hard lessons learned during Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged our own communities.
"Our Subcommittees are in active contact with FEMA and CISA, ensuring that our oversight is aligned with the needs of affected communities. We stand ready to assist all relevant Committees in ensuring that DHS's response is swift, effective, and focused on building long-term resilience in our communities and infrastructure."

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