WASHINGTON — Though it wasn’t an official reply, a Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesperson reiterated Thursday that the plight of homeowners with crumbling foundations does not appear to qualify for aid.
FEMA
Posted inEnergy & Environment
CT’s repeat flood damage dilemma: move out or rebuild?
Thousands of Connecticut homes have been repeatedly damaged by flooding due to storms. costing the government millions in insurance claims. The losses are now causing some to question the wisdom of policies that encourage rebuilding. They say that with climate change, those properties will grow more vulnerable and money would be better spent moving people out. So far, however, few homeowners are interested.
Posted inPolitics
FEMA: New Haven County can get disaster aid for January storm
WASHINGTON — Correcting what Connecticut’s senators called “a serious oversight,” the Obama administration has included New Haven County in a disaster declaration that opened the door to millions of dollars in federal aid to towns hardest hit by January’s massive snowstorm.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Flood insurance hikes arriving at a waterfront near you
Just over a year after shoreline politicians along with a panicked real estate industry and homeowners fought successfully to roll back scheduled dramatic increases in National Flood Insurance Program rates, most of them are back in only slightly modified form. As policies renew, shoreline homeowners are likely to face a new round of sticker shock, their penalty for living in flood zones.
Posted inNews
CT seeks $6.6 million from feds for towns hit by January blizzard
WASHINGTON – Towns in New Haven, New London, Tolland and Windham counties suffered at least $6.6 million in damages and costs from January’s devastating blizzard, a state emergency management official says.
Posted inPolitics
Homeland Security: Assessing the impact of a shutdown in CT
What would be the impact in Connecticut of a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security? The risks depend on who you ask. But among the certainties are that TSA workers at Connecticut airports and most staff at the Coast Guard Academy in New London would be working without pay.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Wind becoming a new Connecticut shoreline storm concern
With so much focus on preventing shoreline flooding in storms like Irene in Sandy, some worry we are ignoring another problem: wind.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Feds give Connecticut relatively little for recovery from Sandy
WASHINGTON — Of $16 billion in special federal disaster funds released for recovery projects in states damaged by Hurricane Sandy, Connecticut has been awarded only about 1 percent. It’s an amount some local officials say is not enough to help rebuild.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Money, Politics
Congress cuts increases in flood insurance premiums
Washington – The U.S. House of Representatives voted late Tuesday on a bill that would give thousands of Connecticut homeowners relief from rising federal flood insurance premiums.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Connecticut panel does about-face on hazard mitigation funds
Connecticut shoreline homeowners who were victims of storm Sandy and had applied for federal funding to elevate their homes or have them purchased by the government will now have a shot at getting some money.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Money, Politics
Blumenthal, DeLauro try to stop flood insurance increases
Washington – Saying more than 18,000 Connecticut homeowners will be socked with soaring flood insurance premiums, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Rosa DeLauro are pressing the House of Representatives to pass a bill that would stop those hikes.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Hazard mitigation grant do-over
After a massive outcry from shoreline communities, the state emergency management office is being ordered to reconsider its decision to deny certain federal funds for all home elevations and buyouts related to storm Sandy.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
No hazard mitigation funds for Connecticut shoreline homeowners
About a half-dozen shoreline communities are angered that none of their homes damaged by Storm Sandy will receive hazard-mitigation funding for elevations or buyouts.