Malloy Asks FEMA to Consider Further Assistance

With extensive tree damage continuing to cause problems throughout communities statewide and slowing the restorations efforts, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to amend the emergency declaration to include public assistance of debris removal.

Malloy filed the request Wednesday in the form of , which detailed the extensive damage to communities throughout the state. The letter directly requests an exception in FEMA’s policy requiring a preliminary damage assessment before granting federal assistance for cost related to ‘Category A’ relief.

‘Category A’ benefits include funding for debris removal and road repair measures. Malloy is seeking the benefits for all eight counties in Connecticut.

“The situation in the state is unprecedented,” Malloy said in the letter. “State and local resources are overwhelmed and federal fiscal assistance is critical. This is the third disaster in 19 months for Connecticut, and less than 60 days since Tropical Storm Irene devastated the state.”

Earlier this week, for Connecticut that allowed FEMA to approve ‘Category B’ relief throughout the state. The benefits included limited federal assistance for protective measures including personnel overtime costs, emergency repairs, fuel, transportation and communications.

“We’ve polled the state’s municipalities and they are in agreement that the costs from this storm are going to exceed those of Irene,” said David Bednarz, spokesman for the governor.

Connecticut Light & Power officials said Wednesday that there are now almost 1,000 line crews who are working to restore power to the remaining 538,000 residents without power. In many cases, however, crews are still working to clear roads to make it safe for repairs, according to CL&P President and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Butler.