Mayor Bloomberg held another press conference from the Office of Emergency Management [OEM] in Downtown Brooklyn just after 11 a.m. The mayor said that while damage is severe and ten New Yorkers lost their lives as a result of Superstorm Sandy, no first responders had died. The mayor praised the heroic work of rescue personnel during the storm.

Bloomberg vowed to keep shelters open, tweeting that the emergency lodgings would remain open until New Yorkers “can safely return to their homes.” He added that drinking water has been tested and, although safe, it has been treated with additional chlorine as a precautionary measure.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer also gave an update on federal efforts to aid in the city’s storm recovery, telling the press that President Obama would give local officials all the help they need. Schumer stated that, as is usually the case, federal reimbursement for storm damage would be at least 75%.

Earlier this morning, State Senator Marty Golden tweeted that FEMA has begun taking applications at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Bloomberg said that he would give updates as the day progressed, and continued to remind the city that parks are closed and public transit is still not running. He urged residents to use caution and not venture out unless necessary and only to help others.