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First Selectman urges legislative help after state fails to reach FEMA threshold for Feb. 22 storm
Summary
Town officials said county submissions totaled about $3.83 million but the statewide total reached roughly 55% of the federal threshold, so Connecticut did not qualify for FEMA reimbursement. First Selectman Robert Brule asked staff to contact legislators to seek regional relief.
Board members spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing FEMA reimbursement prospects after the Feb. 22 blizzard. Staff explained county submissions for New London and Windham totaled about $3.83 million combined but the statewide total reached only roughly 55% of the federal threshold required to trigger a FEMA declaration and federal reimbursements.
"This is my job as the first selectman is to advocate for our town," First Selectman Robert Brule said, pressing for outreach to legislators on behalf of the region. Board members noted the federal government has reduced some pandemic‑era funding and that the state's available pool is constrained; they discussed priorities and the difficulty of securing state help when the statewide threshold is not met.
Staff outlined the FEMA application process: towns submit estimates and backup documentation (payroll, contractor bills), counties aggregate totals, and the state applies to FEMA. Because the state did not meet its threshold, no federal reimbursement will be distributed to towns from this incident. The board asked staff to reach out to regional legislators to seek any available assistance and to continue documenting costs for potential future action.
