The state’s emergency-management chief knew whom to help after Superstorm Sandy — himself.
Office of Emergency Management boss Steven Kuhr was fired after allegedly sending workers to clear a tree in his Long Island driveway as other victims of the storm suffered, sources said yesterday.
As crews struggled to clear wreckage throughout the area after the storm hit last week, Kuhr called Suffolk County officials and asked for the favor, a source said.
Kuhr, who was in Albany at the time, also had a subordinate call on his behalf, another source said.
A state employee alerted Gov. Cuomo’s office, which conducted a preliminary investigation and spoke to individuals with direct knowledge of what had happened.
“That was sufficient to demonstrate the terrible judgment made,” an administration official said. “It is staggeringly inappropriate for a public servant to direct resources to a private residence when so many people are in trouble.”
After learning on Monday of the incident, Cuomo axed Kuhr, sources said.
Kuhr, who earned $153,000 annually, was director for about one year.
Kuhr has had a series of jobs with New York City including as deputy director for operations and planning for the city’s Office of Emergency Management.
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Kuhr was deputy to the current state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner, Jerry Hauer, when Hauer was Director of the OEM in the city from 1996-2000.
Hauer recommended Kuhr for the state job.
“He seemed to have the qualifications” and Hauer was “100 percent supportive,” a source said.
The employee who made the call on Kuhr’s behalf is not expected to be disciplined, but the state State Inspector General will investigate, the sources said.
Cuomo’s office declined to comment, and Kuhr did not immediately return a request for comment.
A Suffolk County official familiar with the incident acknowledged Kuhr called for workers to go to his home, but defended him, insisting no important resources were diverted.
“This is the governor realizing he’s not getting the job done and finding someone to blame,” said the source, who asked not to be identified. “Steve is a qualified, stand-up guy and to let him go over something like this is just outrageous.”