FEMA takes stock of flood damage in region

Stonington - As Liz Fuhrman approached the front of the closed Old Mystic General Store early Tuesday afternoon, she told store owner Fini McGlinchey that she was from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"Yay!" said McGlinchey as she invited Fuhrman in to see how last week's raging floodwaters coated her floors with mud, soaked drywall and destroyed $10,000 worth of food and other inventory.

After Fuhrman explained that Small Business Administration loans would be available to her if and when the federal government declares the state a disaster area, McGlinchey asked some questions about interest rates and the application process.

"I'm happy to see them. It's the start of the solution," said McGlinchey, who was also frustrated that she may have to wait weeks to get the money she needs to reopen.

"Every day I'm closed, I'm losing money," she said. "I've got bills to pay. We want to reopen."

A few minutes later and a little further down Main Street, Fuhrman and other FEMA officials, along with Stonington First Selectman Ed Haberek, found Les Haley next to his parents' garage. Haley, who lives next door, brought Fuhrman back to the small building that houses his radio-controlled model airplane store. He said the water destroyed $15,000 worth of inventory as a 400-foot-wide torrent tore through his neighborhood last week, forcing him and his parents to evacuate for several days.

Haley showed them how the rushing water blew out the windows in his basement crawl space and was an inch from coming in his back door. It ruined his furnace and tore up his yard.

"I'm glad to see FEMA here. We're typical New Englanders," said Haley, who wore an old Boston Red Sox cap. "We don't expect a lot of help. We usually get through these things ourselves. But I'm in too difficult a position to turn away any charity."

Fuhrman's team was the first of 10 that will be in town over the next few days evaluating some of the damage reported by the town, businesses and 500 homeowners, and then helping the state prepare its request to the federal government that Connecticut be declared a federal disaster area.

If the declaration is approved, residents, businesses and municipalities will be able to receive financial assistance for their non-insured losses, while businesses will be able to apply for low-interest loans.

Both Fuhrman and Haberek tried to clear up some misunderstandings about the process. So far, the town has asked residents and businesses to report their damage and how much they expect to pay for repairs, replacement costs and other items, such a staying in a hotel. This information is not a formal application for aid but is being compiled so the state can exceed the $4.39 million threshold of damages that it must meet to be eligible for aid. There is also an $837,000 threshold for New London County. Stonington alone has an estimated $3.8 million in damage.

The information is being passed on to FEMA, which is helping to prepare the state's application to be declared a disaster area. The FEMA teams in the area now are inspecting some of the harder-hit properties to provide a better picture of the damage to the region as they prepare the application.

If and when the declaration is made, which Fuhrman said could take another week or two, FEMA and the Small Business Administration will send officials to help people apply for the actual aid.

Fuhrman urged those she met Tuesday to look for an announcement that the state has been declared a disaster area. She said they should keep all receipts and records and take photographs of the damage to their property.

While Fuhrman's team was in Old Mystic looking at homes and businesses Tuesday, another team traveling with Stonington Public Works Director Joe Bragaw was touring the many bridges and roads that have been damaged.

At the Pawcatuck River and Stillman Avenue bridges, FEMA program specialist Justin Ratti spoke with Haberek and Bragaw about the condition of the two closed bridges. Because the water is still flowing so rapidly beneath the two spans, divers have not been able to determine their conditions.

"We're just trying to get a good assessment of the damage and get some preliminary numbers," Ratti said.

Stonington officials also announced that the town will hold a workshop with the IRS to assist residents affected by flood damage at 11 a.m. Friday at the Human Services Building. IRS representatives will explain a taxpayer option to file an automatic extension of time to file federal tax returns.

Also, anyone who has received energy assistance from TVCCA can call the agency at (860) 425-6681 and arrange for a free furnace repair or replacement.

As long as needed

In North Stonington Tuesday afternoon, FEMA teams began preliminary damage assessment of municipal buildings around town, the first step in the aid process.

"They've been very helpful and professional," First Selectman Nick Mullane said.

The Main Street bridge, Main Street itself, the town library and the Hewitt Dam were evaluated by FEMA teams on Tuesday. Mullane said the town's aid eligibility depends on the scope of the damage and the types of programs the town is eligible for.

George Weinert, an environmental and historic preservation specialist for FEMA, said that North Stonington's downtown historic-district status is a major factor in the evaluation process.

"FEMA is concerned about the historic and environmental issues happening in town, and we'll do our best to determine what needs to happen here," Weinert said.

Suzanne Novak, public information officer for FEMA, said multiple teams were in Connecticut to provide public and individual assistance. "We'll be here as long as the state needs us to help support them during the preliminary damage assessment," she said.

Mullane also said the section of Main Street in front of Old Town Hall will remain closed for as long as it takes to go through the necessary state disaster-claim processes, but he is sure of one thing: "The Memorial Day parade is still happening. There's no doubt about that. We've got to make a few changes to the parade route, but it's on."

Too soon to tell

In Griswold, FEMA officials met with town officials Tuesday afternoon and then toured some of the most damaged areas of the borough and the town, according to First Selectman Philip Anthony Jr.

Anthony said the officials first toured municipally owned properties - from the sewer treatment plant to the bridges to the roads - and will return to consider residential properties if the town meets a certain threshold to make an official disaster declaration.

In a voicemail message late Tuesday, town Public Works Director Todd Babbitt said that based on the tour, he estimates town roads sustained about $380,000 in damage, but the extent of the damage to six town bridges was still unclear. Babbitt said the state Department of Transportation must examine the structures, but in many cases the water is still too high or too fast to allow thorough inspections.

Amnesty in Montville

In Montville, Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz will meet this morning with FEMA to discuss municipal and residential damage.

At a special meeting Tuesday night, the town council approved an amnesty for residents at the town's transfer station this Friday through Sunday to help people dispose of materials damaged by the flood waters.

The allowance applies to town residents only. To use the facility, residents must present either a transfer station sticker or a valid form of identification proving they live in town. If a resident has hired a contractor to clean up his or her property, that resident must provide written permission for that contractor to dispose of the waste during the amnesty days.

FEMA representatives were also performing preliminary damage assessments in Norwich and Plainfield on Tuesday.