FEMA Grants for Sandy Damage Now Coming to More Westporters

An announcement from the Westport First Selectman’s Office:

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe has announced that Westport residents are among the first to receive federal Superstorm Sandy Hazard Mitigation grants.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded six Westport residents a total of $587,441 in grants to assist with costs incurred in elevating their homes to protect against future flooding and storms.

This is the second round of grant awards Westport has received. Under the Hurricane Irene Disaster relief, grants totaling $1,905,802 were awarded for five residential home elevations, three land acquisitions, and a replacement emergency standby generator for the Police Department.

“These new grants will help families that were battered by Irene and Sandy to elevate their homes and make our community more resilient to future storms,’’ said Marpe. “Being the first to receive Superstorm Sandy grant awards is quite an accomplishment considering that this funding, targeted for storm ravaged homeowners, was almost reallocated from Westport by the State for other purposes.”

Earlier in the year, the Connecticut Interagency Hazard Mitigation Committee (CIHMC) made a decision to allocate all federal Hazard Mitigation Funds from Sandy towards state infrastructure projects, effectively eliminating the possibility that homeowners would receive funds to repair and /or mitigate potential damage from future storms.

However, upon the urging of First Selectman Marpe, Emergency Management Director Andrew Kingsbury, Congressman Jim Himes, Representative Jonathan Steinberg and others, Governor Malloy directed the CIHMC to reconvene and reconsider its decision. After reconvening, the CIHMC reallocated these funds to homeowners directly affected by Superstorm Sandy. Residents were able to receive up to $100,000 to assist in elevating their homes.

Approximately 24 other Hazard Mitigation grants totaling $2,297,304 have been submitted by Westport and are awaiting a decision by FEMA.

First Selectman Marpe concluded, “This is a good day for Westport. These grants will help bring relief from some of the personal and physical damage caused by the storms. It also demonstrates that local government recognizes the needs of its citizens and with strong leadership can effectively lobby with other levels of government to insure proper action which benefits those in need.”