State on Hurricane recovery: "We just want to help our fellow Americans."

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The southern United States saw serious damage and even deaths following massive hurricanes Milton and Helene. New York sent aid to hard-hit southern states like North Carolina and Florida as part of disaster aid.

This week on Empire State Weekly, Terence O'Leary, Executive Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, explained how the state determines how to help other states in need. He explained that despite the political rhetoric surrounding the disaster aid from the 2024 campaign trail, those responding to hurricane-impacted areas are committed to helping those in need.

"A disaster doesn't care who you vote for, it doesn't care where you live. It can pop up anywhere, it can happen to anybody. So when we show up, we're just there to do the mission," said O'Leary. "We're not asking who you are, we don't care who you are. We just want to help our fellow Americans."

Also this week, Erica Smitka, the Executive Director for the League of Women Voters, explained the important reminders for voters ahead of the November 5 election. She believes the most important things for voters to remember are checking if they're registered, finding their polling place, and knowing what's on the ballot.

"Make sure you're registered to vote. There are a lot of folks who think they're registered, maybe they've moved, or it's been a few years since they voted. But go online to the Board of Elections website, they have a great tool - a voter lookup tool, that you can see if you're registered to vote. And the other most important thing is to know where your poll site is," said Smitka.

Also this week, Henry Rosoff, a reporter with WPIX in New York City, gave an update on the debate between candidates for the state's 18th Congressional district.

To see these interviews and more, here is a list of how you can watch Empire State Weekly in your area of New York: