Brookfield Warns: 'FEMA is Watching'

BROOKFIELD, CT — Officials are warning residents about two Federal Emergency Management Agency rules which they must obey if the town is to receive much needed funding for cleaning up after May's devastating macroburst and storm.

"First, and most important, do not drag brush from private property onto the town right-of-way," officials advised. "There are FEMA inspectors monitoring the cleanup, following every truck picking up debris. If an inspector sees a resident dragging brush from private property onto the town right-of-way, FEMA could disqualify the entire town from receiving any aid."

FEMA has authorized $1.5 million for the cleanup.

The agency also requires that Brookfield maintain a State-certified brush yard to track the source of every cubic yard of debris, count it as it’s delivered, and certified as actual storm debris. The town closed down the brush yard because FEMA will not allow anyone other than town contractor to use it, and because of dangerous working conditions there.

Officials say they are working with their contractor to open the yard to residents on Saturdays going forward.

A total of 4,800 cubic yards have been removed from the town right of way, and delivered to the town brush yard during the first 2 days of work. Officials are now estimating that it will take one month to do the town right of way clean up.

Contractor CERES, Inc. is bringing in additional equipment on Monday. Several local individuals have been hired and trained as FEMA monitors to assist.

Photograph provided.