Feds: Jan. 12 Snowstorm Was a Disaster

President Barack Obama has approved a major disaster declaration that will make Fairfield County towns eligible for federal assistance to help pay for the cleanup of the Jan. 12 snowstorm.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy wrote the president Feb.18 seeking aid for Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, New London and Tolland counties, and the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nations. According to a joint FEMA-State of Connecticut Preliminary Damage assessment for the Jan. 12 snowstorm, there are more than $14 million in estimated eligible costs.

According to Greenwich Emergency Management Director Dan Warzoha, Greenwich was able to show more than $200,000 in expenses related to the storm that were included in Malloy’s disaster declaration application. “We will be getting an e-mail later (Friday) on the details. Right now, we don’t know how reimbursement we will be eligible for,” Warzoha said.

First Selectman Peter Tesei added, “We are pleased that President Obama approved this funding reimbursement. It will certainly assist us in meeting the added costs associated with the winter storms.”

The Jan. 12 storm dumped about 15 inches of snow in town, paralyzed driving on local and state roads, prompted officials to declare a snow emergency and open emergency shelters throughout town.

So far this season, the town has spent $1.7 million in snow removal – about $1 million more than was budgeted.

Warzoha said the town should know next week when FEMA will “come in with an operations center. It’s just a lot a paperwork to be completed, not field visits.”

The federal aid will help Connecticut municipalities and state agencies 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 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 in a prepared statement.

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 if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.