THE VALLEY – Gov. Ned Lamont’s office sent an email Friday afternoon updating the public on the government’s flood recovery efforts.
Flash floods killed two Oxford residents on Aug. 18 and caused millions of dollars in damage. In The Valley Indy’s coverage area, Oxford and Seymour were hardest hit.
Here are some highlights from the governor’s message:
Still Damaged
* Route 34 in Oxford near the Stevenson Dam and parts of Route 67 in Oxford and Southbury remained closed Friday (Aug. 30) but remained a “high priority”
* Temporary bridges are being designed for those roads to be installed until permanent fixes are made
* Two washouts damaged the Waterbury Branch train line. No trains are running. Buses are being used and will be until further notice. Repairs are being hampered because it’s hard to access the sites, especially in Seymour near the Kinneytown Dam. Click here for a previous Valley Indy story
Repaired
* Immediately after the storm, 30 state roads and five rail lines were closed or delayed
* As of Friday (Aug. 30), 23 roads were reopened and four rail lines were operating
* 125 catch basins have been cleaned
* 450 road shoulders and washouts have been repaired
* 31 culverts and pipes have been cleared
* 1.2 million lbs. of debris removed
* 40 state-owned bridges inspected
* A new, interactive road repair map launched this week. Click here to view it.
Federal Aid
* The state is still working with towns and residents to collect damage assessments to see if Connecticut qualifies to be declared a major federal disaster. A major federal disaster declaration could result in the release of federal funding to reimburse eligible homeowners, businesses, and state/local government for some rebuilding and repair costs. That aid could potentially help uninsured private property owners, too.
* Click this link to self report.
* The requirements for seeking a federal major disaster declaration typically takes a period of days or weeks to complete.
* The joint preliminary damage assessment for FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which can include reimbursements for eligible state and local government costs of repairing public infrastructure, is scheduled to begin Sept. 9.
State 'Microgrants'
*The state recently announced the launch of a microgrant program to provide some relief to small business owners. Applications open Sept. 3. Click here for a previous Valley Indy story. These grants of up to $25,000 are for business with less than 100 employees.
*Small businesses and nonprofits can apply for grants beginning September 3 by filling out the application that will be made available online on the WBDC’s website at ctwbdc.org.
