Update: Secretary of State Joins Local Officials on Tour of Rye in the Wake of Hurricane Irene

ALBANY, NY (08/31/2011)(readMedia)-- Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales will be in Rye, New York later today, Wednesday, August 31, 2011 to tour dwellings damaged by Hurricane Irene. He will receive a briefing from building code enforcement officials who are assisting the city in assessing the damage to residential and commercial buildings. The Secretary will be joined by the Mayor of the City of Rye Doug French, State Assemblyman George Latimer, Westchester County Legislator Judy Meyers, Steve Otis-chief of staff to State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, City Manager Scott Pickup and City Engineer George Mottarella.

The Secretary will depart for the tour at 6:00 p.m. from Rye City Hall at 1051 Boston Post Road. The building code enforcement officials were deputized as Assistants to the Secretary of State in anticipation of Hurricane Irene and in response to the Governor's Executive Order declaring a State Disaster Emergency. The officials have been trained by the Department of State and stand at the ready to evaluate buildings for habitability and qualification for financial assistance from state and federal disaster agencies. In total, 45 volunteer code enforcement officials have been deputized to assist communities across the state in their recovery from Hurricane Irene.

After touring affected areas, Secretary Perales will return to City Hall at 7:00 p.m. to be briefed by volunteer code enforcement officials and to thank them for their extraordinary efforts.

WHO: Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales

Local Elected Officials

Volunteer Building Code Enforcement Officials

WHAT: Tour of damaged dwellings in Rye and debrief with

volunteer local code enforcement officials

WHEN: Wednesday, August 31, 2011

6:00 p.m. Tour of affected dwellings

7:00 p.m. Debrief with code officials at City Hall

WHERE: Rye City Hall, 1051 Boston Post Road

Both the tour and the briefing event are open to the media.