Lieberman, Blumenthal, DeLauro, Courtney Call for Disaster Assistance to Middlesex and Windham Counties
(Washington, DC) – Senators Joseph Lieberman and Richard Blumenthal today joined with Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Joe Courtney to call for disaster assistance to Middlesex and Windham counties in the wake of devastating January snowstorms.
In a letter sent Friday to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Lieberman, Blumenthal, DeLauro, and Courtney write, “We recognize the effort that is required to make declarations of federal aid eligibility, and appreciate the swift response the Administration has provided regarding most of the counties in our state. Still, these two counties – Middlesex and Windham – shared in the estimated $14 million in storm response costs experienced by the state, but have yet to receive the federal disaster assistance they clearly need.”
On March 4, 2011, President Obama responded to a request from Governor Dannel Malloy, supported by the Connecticut congressional delegation, for a major disaster declaration for the state. However, Middlesex and Windham counties, both of which experienced severe damage, have received no response on whether they are eligible for federal funds, which they badly need.
The full text of the letter sent to the Department of Homeland Security is below.
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March 11, 2011
The Honorable Janet Napolitano
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
108 Federal Office Building
Washington, DC 20502
Dear Secretary Napolitano:
We write today to reiterate our strong support for federal disaster assistance to our state to help address the high costs of a recent snow storms.
Beginning on January 11, 2011, and continuing through the next day, Connecticut was hit with a major snowstorm. Following a request for a major disaster declaration, President Obama declared most of the counties of Connecticut as eligible for federal aid, including Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, New London, and Tolland counties, as well as the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nations. We value this assistance, and believe that it will provide critical help to local officials and organizations as they recover from the impact of this storm.
However, we remain concerned that Windham and Middlesex Counties, which were also hard hit by this storm, were not included in the declaration and remain under review. Both of these counties have validated expenses that are more than two times the FEMA county per capita cost thresholds; indeed, these counties have higher per capita costs than counties which have already been included in the President’s disaster declaration.
Earlier today, Governor Malloy submitted important information regarding the accuracy and use of historical snowfall records in Middlesex County and the application of FEMA’s policies with regard to Windham County. We ask that you carefully review this additional submission.
We recognize the effort that is required to make declarations of federal aid eligibility, and appreciate the swift response the Administration has provided regarding most of the counties in our state. Still, these two counties – Middlesex and Windham – shared in the estimated $14 million in storm response costs experienced by the state, but have yet to receive the federal disaster assistance they clearly need.
We look forward to your complete analysis of Connecticut’s request for federal aid for these two counties. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Joseph I. Lieberman
United States Senator
Richard Blumenthal
United States Senator
Rosa L. DeLauro
Member of Congress
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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