Much of Connecticut is still in the dark, recovering from an uncharacteristically early snowstorm that knocked out power across the state.
The outrage – err, outage – map still shows towns in black or deep purple, indicating more than 60 percent of Connecticut Light & Power customers the don’t have power.
Politicians in Hartford are asking what should be done for next time. Some are suggesting fines for utilities.
President Barack Obama already signed a disaster declaration setting into motion the federal disaster-response bureaucracy for the current snowstorm, even before the deadline to register for aid from the previous disaster, Hurricane Irene, expired on Nov. 3.
Recent history has shown the state doesn’t always get what it wants from Washington after a disaster.
In response to Irene, Connecticut residents received more than $6 million in disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and $4 million in low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration, according to an October tally by Gov. Dannel Malloy’s office.
Earlier in October, the administration reported more than 6,000 residents had already registered with FEMA and the agency had sanctioned almost 4,000 inspections.
“I am pleased to see that state residents continue to receive much needed financial assistance after the effects of Tropical Storm Irene,” Malloy said in an October statement.
However, FEMA has not handled every request from Connecticut to the state’s liking. The Malloy administration filed appeals to get two additional counties included in the disaster declaration for the Jan. 11 to 12 snowstorm.
Last year, Washington denied two appeals by the Rell administration for disaster aid following a summer tornado. The federal government did make SBA aid available after the rare twister.
The state also received at least $14.3 million for March 2010 storm damage after requests from the Rell administration.
According to the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security website, DEMHS managed $215 million in federal grant funding and disaster aid since 2005. Over the same period, the number of grants managed increased from three to 20.
The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is in the process of absorbing DEMHS, which spends about $5 million of state money a year.
FEMA assistance for Irene came in two forms, housing aid and other needs assistance. Housing aid pays for repairs not covered by insurance, temporary housing and replacement of ruined homes. Other needs assistance covers a wide range of expenses, including medical and funeral costs.
SBA loans allow homeowners to repair damaged real estate and make improvements to avoid future damage. Businesses can also borrow to money to cover replacement costs.
Connecticut also received more than $1 million in federal funding to reimburse state agencies, local governments and nonprofits for 75 percent of costs related to the Jan. 11 and 12 snowstorm.
“I’m pleased that FEMA recognized the severity of the snowstorm Connecticut faced last January 11 and 12,” Malloy said in May. “In addition to that specific storm, the 2011 winter season proved particularly grueling and costly and I know this funding will be well-received by our cities, towns and nonprofit organizations. We were successful in our application process, in large part, due to the responsiveness of cities and towns to our request for data, as well as the work by state emergency management workers. We can’t prevent storms from impacting Connecticut during any season, but we can work together to help prepare for them, and provide relief and assistance after-the-fact.”
Although the state received a federal disaster declaration for six counties on March 3, emergency management officials are appealing to get the declaration in the remaining two counties, Windham and Middlesex.