First Selectman Dan Rosenthal was caught by surprise September 27 when he learned through a press release issued to The Newtown Bee that the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA had formally announced the pending delivery of more than $2 million in storm clean-up relief.

The award from claims made for clean-up costs following a devastating May 2018 macroburst storm that flattened countless trees; destroyed and damaged dozens of Newtown homes; and took down power lines, closing roads and causing days of outages for thousands of residents.

First and foremost, however, Mr Rosenthal said he was pleased the municipality was “inching closer to our official FEMA reimbursement, even if that notice came in the form of a broadly issued press release.”

“FEMA has completed its review and signed off, which apparently precipitated the press release,” the first selectman added. “My understanding is the final notice of the grant award and reimbursement will come from CT DEMHS. I have contacted DEMHS to find out timing; however, I have no reason to believe the final figure will differ from the roughly $2 million dollar figure noted in the press release.”

Mr Rosenthal said that figure substantially covers the town’s expenses relative to the May 2018 storm.

“I am grateful to our first responders and town employees that worked tirelessly to assist our community during and after the storm; without them, my job would be impossible,” he added.

On September 27, the Region 1 FEMA office issued a press notice stating that Newtown will receive $2,045,870 from FEMA for debris removal costs incurred as a result of the May 15, 2018, severe storms, tornadoes, and straight-line winds. This funding is a result of a partnership between FEMA and the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS).

The $2,045,870 grant represents the federal share of the total project cost of more than $2.7 million. The remainder will come from non-federal sources.

This grant is funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant program, which reimburses communities for actions taken in the immediate response and during recovery from a disaster.

Eligible applicants include states, federally recognized tribal governments, US territories, local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations. The grant applications are submitted from the state, which coordinates the process with local governments, the release states.

FEMA obligates funding for this project directly to the State. It is the State’s responsibility to ensure that the eligible sub-recipient receives this award.

Following the state’s review process and upon receipt of appropriate documentation, they will provide funds to the sub-recipient on a reimbursable basis, the release says.

Newtown, which is located in Fairfield County, and New Haven County received a Presidential declaration due to the extent of the damage caused by the severe storms. To date, FEMA has obligated more than $5.3 million to the State of Connecticut as a result of damages from that declaration, DR-4385-CT, under the Public Assistance program, according to the release.