The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which recently announced it would provide financial disaster relief to Newtown and a number of other municipalities following a severe May 15 macroburst, is initially denying aid to individual homeowner applicants who may be seeking assistance to cover high deductibles or property damage outside the scope of their homeowners coverage.

On August 28, state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection spokesperson Scott Devico notified The Newtown Bee that the state is weighing its options.

“The Individual Assistance part of the Governor’s request was denied, but we are currently exploring our options moving forward,” Mr Devico said in an e-mail response for clarification after Newtown officials began hearing through other media sources that Connecticut’s individual reimbursement request was denied.

Mr Devico said the state has 30 days from the receipt of the FEMA denial to appeal the decision.

A copy of an August 21 letter from FEMA Associate Administrator Jeff Byard obtained by The Newtown Bee after a Freedom of Information request acknowledges that “the damage from this [May 15] event was significant in each of the designated areas” in Fairfield and New Haven counties, and particularly the communities of Bridgewater, New Milford, and Roxbury.

“However, based on our review of all the information available, including the results of the joint Individual Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA), it has been determined that the impact to the individuals and households from this event was not of such a severity and magnitude to warrant the designation of individual assistance.”

The letter also denied specific assistance for New Milford, along with Roxbury and Bridgewater, which actually fall in the jurisdiction of the Newtown Health District.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said prior to the state’s clarification directly from FEMA, he was hearing mixed reports that it was under review, consistent with an official statement that was released last week. He had also heard the individual aid was denied.

“We will do whatever we can to assist in the appeals process should it move it that direction,” the first selectman said.

During a conference call with the first selectman and US Senator Richard Blumenthal following the confirmation August 28, Mr Rosenthal told the senator, “we should advocate for individual residents to the extent that it’s possible.”

Mr Rosenthal wondered if the mechanisms required to activate the FEMA individual claims process might be too complex or costly for the relatively limited number of residents affected across the storm’s path.

As Sen Blumenthal pointed out, he witnessed storm-ravaged areas where several houses were significantly damaged, while others in immediate proximity were virtually untouched. At the same time, however, he noted that he was in the company of FEMA representatives as they observed some of the hardest hit neighborhoods following the storms.

“Declining relief to these individuals who suffered significant damage is outrageous and unjustifiable,” Sen Blumenthal told The Newtown Bee. “I plan to fight for a reversal, as this decision seems completely arbitrary and uninformed. Many homeowners had insufficient insurance to cover their losses, and they have suffered as much damage as [municipalities] have. This refusal is inexplicable.”

Mr Rosenthal agreed, saying it was curious that FEMA acknowledged that municipal losses in certain cases were catastrophic, yet the private property owners within those communities were deemed to be unqualified for FEMA assistance.

Senator Blumenthal’s concerns were echoed by his colleague, US Senator Chris Murphy, who responded to a request for comment, saying he, too, saw the damage to private homes firsthand.

Murphy, DeLauro Weigh In

“I visited homes and saw the devastation this storm caused the community,” Sen Murphy said. “It’s unfortunate that FEMA has denied the Individual Assistance reimbursement request. I’ll do everything I can to help folks find the resources they need.”

Sen Murphy suggested that homeowners have the option of applying to the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program for relief assistance, which covers a broad range of costs related to storm damage.

“I will continue to work hard to make sure Washington doesn’t forget about the people who have to relive the effects of this storm every single day” said Sen Murphy.

The FEMA refusal also raised the ire of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03).

During an August 23 press conference at the storm-devastated Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, Rep DeLauro encouraged residents to submit their receipts and future costs to their towns for damage not covered by their insurance. She also vowed to be in touch with Deputy Commissioner Hackett at the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to urge that the state appeal the denial of individual assistance and to make families whole again.

On August 28, Rep DeLauro said she met with officials from FEMA to discuss tornado recovery efforts.

“I was pleased to meet with the Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA’s Region 1, Mark Landry, and John Saggese from Congressional Affairs to discuss the ongoing efforts to make Connecticut whole after the damaging tornadoes in May,” Rep DeLauro said.

“One important aspect municipalities in Connecticut should know is that there is no time frame for reimbursement of debris removal and emergency work — meaning that debris removal from May 15th is just as eligible as debris removal from yesterday,” she said. “While this is certainly good news for the towns and the State of Connecticut, there is still a glaring need for assistance for homeowners.”

Rep DeLauro pledged to stand with Senators Murphy and Blumenthal, “ready to fight when the State appeals FEMA’s decision to deny Individual Assistance.

“I urge homeowners with uninsured or future costs to submit those costs to their towns to help create a stronger appeal for Individual Assistance,” Rep DeLauro said. “As I understand, there will be a kickoff meeting in September for municipalities and nonprofits to formally sign up for FEMA assistance and learn more about the agency’s reimbursement system. Details of that meeting will be released at a later date.”