President Joe Biden has approved a federal emergency declaration for Suffolk County following last week's historic flooding.

"The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population," read part of a statement issued by the White House. "And to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe."

The statement says Ms. Lai Sun Yee of FEMA will coordinate recovery efforts.

Department of Financial Services staff will be deployed to affected communities to provide insurance help to residents and businesses affected by severe weather and will also be staffing a resource center to assist residents and business owners with insurance-related questions.

DFS staff will be deployed to the following affected communities:

Tuesday, Aug. 27 – Stony Brook University's Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology, Room 343, 1500 Stony Brook Rd., Stony Brook, NY, 11794. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 28 – Stony Brook University's Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT), Room 343, 1500 Stony Brook Rd., Stony Brook, NY 11794. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.