Obama Declares Major Disaster From Jan. 12 Storm; Towns Could be Eligible For Reimbursements

HARTFORD  – President Barack Obama has approved Governor Dannel P. Malloy's Feb. 18 request for a major disaster declaration for federal aid in connection with the Jan. 12 snowstorm. This declaration includes Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, New London and Tolland Counties, including the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nations.  

This federal aid will provide financial assistance to Connecticut municipalities and state agencies to help pay for emergency protective measures such as snow removal and other storm-related costs. The eligible assistance time period has been approved for 48 hours for Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, New London, Tolland Counties and the Tribal Nations, and for 72 hours for New Haven County. The President did not declare a major disaster for Middlesex and Windham Counties.

Malloy has directed the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to prepare an appeal on behalf of these two counties.

“The major disaster declaration that President Obama declared will help our cities and towns with the gaping holes in their budgets left by a brutal, relentless winter,” Malloy said. “I’d like to thank President Obama and FEMA for their quick action in this regard. However, Middlesex and Windham Counties were not spared this winter and I’m already moving forward with an appeal to this ruling on behalf of those counties.”  
In addition, all counties and Tribal Nations in Connecticut are eligible to apply for assistance under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

The President's declaration also allows Connecticut to make additional designations at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.  The joint FEMA-State of Connecticut Preliminary Damage assessment for the January 12 snowstorm revealed over $14 million in estimated eligible costs.