ABOVE: Louis Narciso, FEMA Disaster Assistance Employee, assesses the damage to a house on High Ridge Road as officials from the state, Red Cross and FEMA tour the city after the violent wind storm in March.
5/13/2010
With the president denying $$ for Fairfield County storm damage repairs, Mayor Michael Pavia is resorting to an even more urgent call for Stamford residents to report damages:
On April 27th, President Obama denied Governor Rell’s request for Individual Assistance (IA) for 5 Connecticut counties: Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Windham. The Governor has directed the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) to prepare an appeal of that decision. An appeal must include additional damage data (in addition to what was collected through the Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments conducted by Federal, State and local officials).
Residents and businesses in the listed counties above are being asked to report damages to Connecticut’s free information and referral service – even if you have already reported damages. You can report your damages by phone by dialing 2-1-1 or on-line at www.211ct.org. The phone lines and web site will be open around the clock.
Damage information will be collected now through 6:00 P.M. Friday, May 14th . You will be asked approximately 10 -to- 12 questions regarding the extent of damage encountered during the storm that began on March 12, 2010.)The damage information collection process will assist DEMHS in preparing the appeal. Please note this is a damage data collection process: by completing the survey residents and businesses owners have not applied (or registered) for assistance.
If the appeal is granted and the State receives Individual Assistance, residents and businesses in the declared counties will receive further instructions on how to apply for assistance. This information will be made public in many ways, including on the DEMHS Website at www.ct.gov/demhs.
If the appeal is not successful, the Governor may request a Small Business Administration, SBA-only, disaster declaration for impacted counties.
If the SBA-only declaration request is granted, Physical Disaster Loans will be available to homeowners, renters and businesses. Businesses can also apply for Economic Injury Loans.