November 2, 2011

GOV. MALLOY URGES FEMA TO AMEND EMERGENCY DECLARATION TO FURTHER AID CITIES, TOWNS, STATE

Cites Cost Of Clean-Up That Far Exceeds That of Irene, For Which CT Met All Public Assistance Thresholds

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy has written to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), asking the agency to amend its emergency declaration that President Barack Obama approved on Monday to include both Category A and Category B aid, which the Governor said will help the State of Connecticut and its residents to recover more quickly from this weekend's rare October snowstorm.

In the emergency declaration approved Monday, the State of Connecticut qualified for Category B emergency protective measures limited to direct federal assistance. While FEMA normally requires a preliminary damage assessment (PDA) before granting Category A and full Category B benefits, Governor Malloy urged FEMA to amend the original declaration to grant full Public Assistance Category A and full Category B assistance in all of the state's eight counties in light of the severe and widespread impact this storm has had.

Wrote Governor Malloy, "Although I understand that it may be your usual practice to require full Preliminary Damage Assessments before granting Category A and full Category B benefits in an emergency declaration, it is clear that the cost of clean-up from this storm is going to be significantly higher than the cost of Irene, for which the State of Connecticut reached all Public Assistance thresholds, both statewide and for each county. We have polled municipalities across the state, and they are in agreement that their storm costs will exceed Irene costs. Again, there is no county government in Connecticut, so the total burden for the costs of response and recovery fall on the state or municipalities."

Category A Public Assistance covers debris removal, and Category B covers emergency protective measures such as personnel overtime, emergency repairs, fuel, sheltering, commodities, transportation, and communications.

The Governor's letter to FEMA is attached.

**Attached: Governor Malloy's letter to FEMA

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For Immediate Release: November 2, 2011

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