Town Will Share Federal Aid in Aftermath of Huge January Snowstorm

At the February Town Council meeting,  Public Works Director Maurice McCarthy told members that Stratford will likely receive some federal funds to help offset the huge cost of snow removal this winter.

Turns out that McCarthy was right, as President Barack Obama this past week approved CT Governor Dannel P. Malloy's  request for a major disaster declaration for federal aid in connection with the January 12 snowstorm.

This federal aid will provide financial assistance to Connecticut municipalities including Stratford, and state agencies to help pay for emergency protective measures such as snow removal and other storm-related costs.

“It’s been a long January,” Public Works Director Maurice McCarthy told members of the Town Council at its meeting Feb. 14, noting that the town had incurred total costs of about $400,000 through mid-February.

In a best case scenario, he said, if no more snow falls on Stratford for the remainder of winter and the federal government comes through with aid to help the town pay for snow removal costs, then the town will only be out about $37,000, which will need to come from the town’s general fund. 

McCarthy explained that the town spent about $356,000 on overtime, and about $43,000 on materials (sand, salt, etc.). “The average storm cost $47,347 for eight snow events,” he said. 

After deducting what the town will be reimbursed for maintaining the railroad parking lost, and using the state funded balance in the town road aid account ($223,639), that leaves the town with a negative balance of about $149,000. 

McCarthy said three weeks ago, “We feel pretty comfortable that FEMA will fund one, maybe two” storms at 70-75% of the total cost, or about $122,000, and based on all the information we have, “and if FEMA comes through then we would be about $36,790 in the negative – a number that includes all overtime, equipment, material and repairs.

“The major disaster declaration that President Obama declared will help our cities and towns with the gaping holes in their budgets left by a brutal, relentless winter,” said Governor Malloy. 

The joint FEMA-State of Connecticut Preliminary Damage assessment for the January 12 snowstorm revealed over $14 million in estimated eligible costs. Stratford will share the federal funds with other area towns that qualify, with the final amount still to be determined.