HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont announced that President Joe Biden approved his request for a major disaster declaration Friday, due to the historic rainfall and extreme flooding that impacted Monroe and other towns and cities in western Connecticut on Aug. 18.
By approving this declaration, Biden is making federal funding available to affected individuals in Fairfield County, Litchfield County, and New Haven County.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. The president also authorized funding for hazard mitigation measures to be implemented statewide.
“This historic weather event caused significant damage to homes and businesses in western Connecticut, and the approval of this major disaster declaration means that individuals will be able to access federal funding to support their recovery efforts, particularly when it comes to the rebuilding of uninsured infrastructure,” Lamont said.
“I appreciate President Biden for approving this declaration, which will be a major benefit for the people who were impacted by this storm,” he continued. “I also thank FEMA and the Small Business Administration for working with my administration to make this declaration possible.”
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA app. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.
The Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, through collaboration with FEMA and the Small Business Administration, is working to identify locations in the impacted counties to open disaster recovery and business recovery centers that will provide in-person support to help affected individuals apply for assistance. An additional announcement will be made once those locations and hours of operations are identified.
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