‘Significant, Widespread’ Storm Damage

May Deter FEMA Canvassing

By John Voket

The Newtown public works director, who has already been working with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials on municipal or public claims from spring storms, has not yet learned if officials from the agency are planning to canvass residential and business claimants here. But if and when disaster officials come to Newtown, they may be challenged by the sheer scope of damage done in this relatively small community.

Home and business owners who are in the process of making insurance claims, or who have already been declined or partially compensated for damages, may have a ready outlet available to tap possible federal assistance now.

A new Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), the third in Fairfield County, opened Thursday, June 21, in Danbury. It is at the Danbury City Hall, 155 Deer Hill Road. The center provides a location where individuals affected by the mid-April storm can talk face-to-face with disaster recovery specialists.

The Danbury DRC, along with the existing DRCs in Greenwich and Bridgeport, will continue to serve applicants from 8 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and be closed on Sunday until further notice.

“The task of assisting individuals recovering from the mid-April nor’easter continues,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Parker. “These Disaster Recovery Centers provide people with a direct link to the federal and state staff who are here to help them. Here, they can learn about the status of their applications and gather information on how to rebuild in ways to avoid future losses.”

Based on observations by Public Works Director Fred Hurley, affected residents and business owners in Newtown may want to consider a trip to the center, instead of waiting for FEMA officials to come knocking on doors as they have in other Connecticut towns in recent weeks.

“They may go from home to home based on an existing list of claims, but it will be more challenging here than in a more urban setting,” Mr Hurley told The Bee Wednesday. “The damage in Newtown is much more spread out and less readily apparent.”

Mr Hurley said in the case of Newtown, the spring nor’easter was much less dramatic than his experience with Hurricane Floyd in 1999, but the overall scope of damage was “significantly worse and widespread.”

The governor is joining with FEMA officials in asking anyone affected by this latest storm to visit one of the Fairfield County centers.

“I encourage Danbury-area residents to contact FEMA as soon as possible to report damages they may have incurred in the nor’easter,” Governor M. Jodi Rell said in a recent release. “Now is the time to file your reports. Federal officials are here to help Connecticut residents right now, so the people of greater Danbury should put this at the top of their to-do lists. Help is now just a phone call away.”

Connecticut counties where individual assistance is available are: Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Windham.

Disaster Recovery Centers are operated by The US Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

Before visiting any DRC, those with damages and losses in the seven declared counties are urged to apply for assistance by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). The hearing- and speech-impaired may call TTY 800-462-7585.

Operators are standing by at both numbers between 8 am and 6 pm seven days a week. Individuals can also register for assistance online at www.fema.gov. Claims can be made for damages that occurred between April 15 and April 27, 2007.

Those applying should be prepared when calling, visiting the on-line resource, or walking in to one of the three Fairfield County centers. A Social Security number (including spouse), private insurance information including all declined or pending claims correspondence, the address and zip code of the affected property, directions to that property, and a daytime phone number will be required of those applying for assistance.