HURRICANE SANDY IN CONNECTICUT - FEMA ADDS THREE ADDITIONAL COUNTIES TO LIST OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
FEMA announced that three more Connecticut counties are now eligible for public assistance: Litchfield, Tolland and Windham. This latest addition brings the total number of counties that are included in the Connecticut disaster declaration to seven, plus two tribal nations.
Counties that received more immediate recognition as being affected by Sandy earlier were: Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven and New London. The two tribal nations were Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan, both in New London County.
What the disaster designation means for these counties and tribal nations is that state, local and tribal governments as well as certain private non-profit organizations can now apply to be reimbursed by the Federal Government, on a cost-sharing basis, for permanent work to repair or rebuild local infrastructure as well as for costs associated with debris removal and other emergency measures incurred as a result of Hurricane Sandy. These measures may include such expenses as emergency power restoration, emergency public transportation, police overtime, clearing of public roads, permanent repairs to roads, bridges and public buildings.
Although the eligibility for assistance may not benefit individual homeowners or CT state residents directly, in the long run the funds from this program will ease the pressure on towns and municipalities to raise local taxes to cover budged gaps due to unexpected expenses brought upon by the storm.
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