Sen. McLachlan Calls on FEMA to Reconsider Financial Support

DANBURY, CT — This week, State Senator Michael McLachlan (R-24) sent a letter to the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency asking the agency to reconsider its denial of financial assistance to individual victims of severe storms on May 15.

The letter to FEMA Administrator William Brock Long details that 110 mile per hour wind speeds felled nearly 1,500 trees and resulted in two fatalities.

“I have witnessed firsthand the damage caused by these storms to individual homeowners, including trees falling onto roofs of homes and causing property damage, and, unfortunately, numerous individuals losing their homes. Many of these individuals are now left with hefty damage costs,” Sen. McLachlan wrote. “These storms devastated our communities and individual properties.”

Last week, FEMA announced that it would reimburse local governments in Fairfield and Hartford Counties for up to 70 percent of storm cleanup costs. However, it denied assistance for individual homeowners, as well as the communities of Bridgewater, New Milford, and Roxbury, which also sustained storm damage.

“While the Malloy Administration has 30 days to appeal FEMA’s denial, the individuals impacted by the storms have been dealing with the devastation for three months,” Sen. McLachlan. “Cold weather is just around the corner and these homeowners can’t wait. How is it acceptable to help the towns, but not the people?”

Sen. McLachlan said he hopes FEMA will expedite a review and grant assistance to all who are dealing with storm damage cleanup and repairs.

Sen. McLachlan represents the communities of Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield, and Sherman.

Photo of State Senator Michael McLachlan provided.