Community Corner

Durham to Receive $51,772 from FEMA for Hurricane Sandy Recovery

The town will be reimbursed for 75-percent of the cost of cleanup from last fall's storm.

 

Durham will receive $51,772 to pay for cleanup from Hurricane Sandy.

The money was recently approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides up to 75 percent reimbursement for storm related expenses.

Find out what's happening in Durham-Middlefieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The hurricane slammed Connecticut in late October causing extensive damage and knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses statewide, including hundreds in Durham and Middlefield.

Francis said the town is still putting together cost estimates from this month's record breaking snowstorm and will apply for more help from FEMA.

Find out what's happening in Durham-Middlefieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It's probably going to go down in history as one of our most expensive cleanups," she said.

The town relied heavily on private contractors to help recover following the blizzard, Francis said. As a result, town officials are now considering investing in equipment that would be needed in similar cleanup efforts.

"Years ago we might have said that they're not necessary to have in our fleet but what we faced [this storm] was a shortage of this type of equipment to event rent," Francis said.

The town had already spent 54 percent of its snow removal budget prior to the storm, according to town officials.

Related articles:

Durham Bracing for Hurricane Sandy

Towns Sign Emergency Declaration as Hurricane Sandy Approaches

Hurricane Sandy: Durham Prepares for Storm's Arrival

Storm Photos: Hurricane Sandy Leaves Damage Behind

Video Captures Durham Immediately After Hurricane Sandy


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