It's Official. Blizzard Of 2013 Was A "Disaster"

The Federal Emergency Management Agency made it official on Thursday. The snowstorm that started Feb. 8 and ran through Feb. 11, 2013, popularly known as the Blizzard of 2013, was a disaster. 

The declaration by the federal government means that towns like Madison may become eligible for reimbursement for" emergency work, and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged." In addition assistance to municipalities in New Haven County and Hartford County for "snow assistance" will be made for a 72-hour period, instead of just 48 hours, the announcement says. 

Madison First Selectman Fillmore McPherson said he is looking into whether that will allow Madison, in New Haven County, to recoup more snow removal costs than it had originally expected. 

The town has estimated costs for Blizzard 2013 cleanup to be about $150,000. At a Board of Selectman meeting on Monday, the selectmen will "consider and take action on Special Appropriation request of $150,000 from Public Works to fund expenditures related to the cleanup of the Blizzard of 2013." If that is approved, it will go to a special town meeting for approval, on a date to be determined. 

Following the Blizzard of 2013, McPherson wrote to U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney, asking them for their help in expanding FEMA's 48-hour limit on snow removal reimbursement. 

"As you may understand, this blizzard of historic proportions has been impossible to clear, even rudimentarily, in 48 hours. After 72 hours, we are still attacking roads that remain closed to emergency responders," McPherson wrote on Feb. 12, 2013.

Gov. Dannel Malloy said Friday he was glad to hear the recovery period has been extended to 72 hours for New Haven County, along with Hartford County. He said he hopes to have that extended to other counties in the state as well. 

FEMA policy typically restricts snow assistance to 48 hours unless a county has received snowfall that exceeds the previous record by fifty percent.  However, Governor Malloy has directed the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to prepare an appeal to extend the assistance period to 72 hours for all counties.

“This declaration will provide much needed financial assistance to our municipalities and the state,” said Governor Malloy.  “I would like to thank President Obama for his continued support during the devastating storms Connecticut has encountered.  Time and again, the President has shown that the federal government is a real partner in getting life back to normal after an extreme weather event.

“I am, however, already moving forward with an appeal to extend the assistance period to 72 hours for all counties, and hope that we can be successful in light of the extraordinary nature of the February storm,” concluded Governor Malloy.

Here is the announcement from FEMA: 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Connecticut  to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of February 8 - 11, 2013.

The President's action makes federal funding available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm and snowstorm in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham counties and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations located within New London County. 

In addition, assistance is available to state, tribal and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for snow assistance, for a continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period in Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex, New London, Tolland, and Windham counties and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations located within New London County. This type of assistance is available in Hartford and New Haven counties for a 72- hour period.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

Albert Lewis has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Lewis said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Follow FEMA online at fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. 

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. 

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Related Links: Federal Aid Programs for the State of Connecticut Declaration

Here is a related press release from Gov. Dannel Malloy: 

GOV. MALLOY: PRESIDENT OBAMA APPROVES MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION 

(HARTFORD, CT) – President Barack Obama has approved Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s request for a major disaster declaration for federal aid in connection with the historic February blizzard.

This federal aid will provide financial assistance to Connecticut municipalities and state agencies to help pay for costs incurred during the storm such as snow removal and other storm-related expenses.  The eligible snow assistance time period has been approved for 72 hours for Hartford and New Haven Counties, and for 48 hours for Fairfield, Litchfield, New London, Tolland, Windham and Middlesex Counties and the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nations.

FEMA policy typically restricts snow assistance to 48 hours unless a county has received snowfall that exceeds the previous record by fifty percent.  However, Governor Malloy has directed the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to prepare an appeal to extend the assistance period to 72 hours for all counties.

“This declaration will provide much needed financial assistance to our municipalities and the state,” said Governor Malloy.  “I would like to thank President Obama for his continued support during the devastating storms Connecticut has encountered.  Time and again, the President has shown that the federal government is a real partner in getting life back to normal after an extreme weather event.

“I am, however, already moving forward with an appeal to extend the assistance period to 72 hours for all counties, and hope that we can be successful in light of the extraordinary nature of the February storm,” concluded Governor Malloy.

In addition, all counties and tribal nations in Connecticut are eligible to apply for assistance under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.