Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul \u2014 who will take over for Gov. Andrew Cuomo early Tuesday \u2014 was working with Long Island officials Saturday as Hurricane Henri \u2026<\/b>
\nLt. Gov. Kathy Hochul \u2014 who will take over for Gov. Andrew Cuomo early Tuesday \u2014 was working with Long Island officials Saturday as Hurricane Henri loomed, her office said. \u201cShe is on Long Island today and toured areas and discussed storm prep plans with local officials in Southampton,\u201d spokeswoman Haley Viccaro said in an email. \u201cThe lieutenant governor is also actively involved in the communications and response.\u201d Hochul tweeted that she also took part in a call with President Biden, Cuomo and Northeastern governors about federal storm prep. \u201cPresident stressed full federal government cooperation & commitment. @RedCross & @fema are offering their assistance,\u201d she said. Viccaro said Hochul was coordinating with state and federal agencies to assist and manage the response to the storm. \u201cShe continues to be on the Island and will be involved in the recovery effort moving forward,\u201d Viccaro said. Three days before he steps down amid a sexual abuse scandal, Cuomo defensively dismissed a question about Hochul\u2019s 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. \u201cI am the governor today and I am in charge,\u201d Cuomo said.<\/p>\n