Community Corner

Connecticut Will Ask For FEMA Aid

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy sent President Barack Obama a letter Thursday letting the president know that Connecticut will seek federal funds to help cover some of the recent snow related expenses

With the finishing touches nearly complete, Connecticut is poised to ask the federal government for money to help cope with the season's rash of severe weather.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy sent President Barack Obama a letter Thursday informing the president that the state has exceeded the dollar threshold used to partially determine eligibility for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance.

Preliminary cost estimates for how much towns and the state spent during the Jan. 11 and 12 storm that brought more than two feet of snow to nearly the entire state exceed $18 million, according to Malloy.

Find out what's happening in Tollandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In his letter, Malloy tells the president of the state's misfortunes since the day after Christmas, when much of the severe weather, which lead to a record snowfall of about 57 inches in January alone, began.

The governor included details about the multiple collapses of commercial and residential properties throughout the state - including properties in Somers, East Windsor, South Windsor, Tolland and Vernon - and he spoke of the financial struggle that municial and state officials continue to contend with as their budgets are either at the brink or have already surpassed the limits.

Find out what's happening in Tollandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For this reason not only could Malloy ask FEMA for assitance regarding the Jan. 11 and 12 storm, but also for "additional federal aid commensurate with the severity of damages as the situation continues to unfold."

To be eligible for such funding, which, for now, would apply only to the Jan 11 and 12 storm, the state must meet a series of critiera, including money spent on the snow clean-up and the confirmation by federal weather authorities of the official record breaking amount of snow.

The spending threshold requirements, broken down by county, are:

Fairfield County, $2.9 million

Hartford County, $2.8 million

New Haven County, $2.7 million

New London County, $847,000

Litchfield County, $595,000

Middlesex County, $507,000

Tolland County, $446,000

Windham County, $356,000

In addition to the county calculations, a second tiered statewide threshold of $4.4 million must also be met in order to be eligible.

Locally, Tolland officials have submitted a request worth $70,000 to the state Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) to include in the state's application in hope of being reimbursed.

DEMHS officials have collected all the necessary information and are now "working with FEMA to validate the information" that has been received, according to a spokesman for the department.

Once the paperwork is in order and FEMA officials have finished their spot check evaluation of the application, Malloy can submit the request.


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