NY, NJ Officials Look To FEMA After $80B In Sandy Damage

The damage from Superstorm Sandy could cost more than $80 billion.

Officials from New York and New Jersey are looking to the government for more money as lawmakers discuss the government's response to Sandy, and what they can learn from it.

The effects of Sandy are still being felt across the Northeast. Communities devastated by the storm are struggling to rebuild.

On Tuesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined by the state's congressional delegation and called for a supplemental spending bill to offset the massive recovery price tag.

"It's roughly a $40-, $50-billion event, and my guess is that number is going to grow over time," Cuomo said.

New York is not the only place looking for help from the feds. States across the country fight for FEMA funds when a natural disasters strike. And the agency's coffers are already running low.

But Sen. Chuck Schumer says it's time for New York to get its fair share.

"We are reminding our colleagues that New York was there when Missouri had tornadoes and North Dakota had floods and Colorado had fire storms and, of course, the Gulf area had hurricanes. And now we need you," Schumer said.

On the Hill, lawmakers and FEMA officials at a congressional hearing to review FEMA's preparedness and response to Sandy and lessons learned from this storm and previous disasters.

"It made sense that FEMA's program – which FEMA will continue to administrate – all those funds out of the DRF, all the recovery dollars, all the individual assistance, all the mitigation dollars will be administered through the states at the governors' direction based on eligible requirements," FEMA's Craig Fugate said.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will be heading to Washington soon and is expected to ask FEMA to pay 100 percent of the costs for debris removal and emergency protection following Sandy, an estimated $40 billion.

Fox News correspondent Doug McKelway has more in this video report.