Freak 1897 Snowstorm May Have Nixed County's Chance at Disaster Relief

Haddam and East Haddam officials were stunned Friday to learn Middlesex County was not among those receiving federal disaster relief in connection with January’s record snowfall.

However, the county may yet receive the much-needed federal funds, according to a spokeswoman from the state Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

When Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s office announced President Obama had approved the Feb. 18 appeal for a major disaster declaration for federal aid for every county in Connecticut except Middlesex and Windham, local officials wondered why.

“I’m shocked and surprised,” said Haddam First Selectman Paul DeStefano. “I don’t understand it. I’d like to know what formula was used and what caused it to be negative. We got serious damage.”

Gov. Malloy has directed the DEMHS to prepare an appeal on behalf of these two counties.

Brenda Bergeron, a lawyer for DEMHS, was cautiously optimistic about Middlesex County’s chance at still being approved for relief.

“It’s guardedly good news,” Bergeron said. “It’s not denied yet, it’s just not included in the declaration. It’s still under review.”

Bergeron explained there are two conditions that must be met before the Federal Emergency Management Agency can approve relief funds.

Hypothetically, Bergeron said, “the reason [the county’s request] specifically might be denied is first the cost. Middlesex County exceeded [snow removal and other storm-related] costs.

“The second threshold is record snowfall amounts. These did not meet FEMA policy requirements.”

FEMA bases this second decision on whether the Jan. 12, 2011, storm’s snowfall was greater than the county’s record. According to the National Weather Service, snowfall amounts ranged from 17.5 inches in Old Saybrook to 22 inches in Haddam and Portland. East Haddam received 21.5 inches.

“Middlesex County’s record snowfall was in 1897. It’s kind of out of whack,” Bergeron said about comparing a 114-year-old record with present-day snowfall figures.

Twenty-eight inches of snow was received in one day, Jan. 28, that year in Middlesex County.

Because of that, Bergeron said, “we made an argument why [Middlesex County] should be included as part of the appeal.

“We’ve started to prepare the appeal until we hear in the negative,” she said.

East Haddam First Selectman Mark Walter said small towns like his would be hit hard if the up to 75 percent of their snow removal-related costs were reimbursed by FEMA.

“It was the biggest snowstorm we’ve ever had. We’re $30,000 over budget. This would have basically saved us. We would have gotten about $27, 000 so to rural towns, it’s a  lot of money we’re counting on. That’s the sad part.”

Walter said in much of Middlesex County, structure failures due to the weight of heavy snow is also part of storm-related damage.

“We had multiple roof collapses in East Haddam. I know Middletown had serious damage due to collapses.”

“I just hope that cool minds prevail,” Walter said.

DEMHS expects to hear a decision by next week.

Show us some love! Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.