Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul — who will take over for Gov. Andrew Cuomo early Tuesday — was working with Long Island officials Saturday as Hurricane Henri loomed, her office said.
“She is on Long Island today and toured areas and discussed storm prep plans with local officials in Southampton,” spokeswoman Haley Viccaro said in an email. “The lieutenant governor is also actively involved in the communications and response.”
Hochul tweeted that she also took part in a call with President Biden, Cuomo and Northeastern governors about federal storm prep. “President stressed full federal government cooperation & commitment. @RedCross & @fema are offering their assistance,” she said.
Viccaro said Hochul was coordinating with state and federal agencies to assist and manage the response to the storm.
“She continues to be on the Island and will be involved in the recovery effort moving forward,” Viccaro said.
Three days before he steps down amid a sexual abuse scandal, Cuomo defensively dismissed a question about Hochul’s role in preparing for the first hurricane to target Long Island since 1985 during an afternoon press conference on the storm in which he announced a state of emergency declaration.
“I am the governor today and I am in charge,” Cuomo said.
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