Stonington — On Jan. 28, a day after a historic blizzard shut down the state, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made his way to the borough to witness the effect it had on the town. As heavy equipment struggled to clear the narrow borough streets, Malloy climbed over massive snowbanks to greet residents and trudged down the middle of Water Street with First Selectman George Crouse.

On Monday afternoon with the sun shining and temperatures in the low 60s, Malloy was back in town, this time standing in front of Town Hall to announced that the state has been successful in obtaining $4.5 million in federal disaster aid to help towns, like Stonington, pay for part of their snow removal costs from the storm.

“This is a lot nicer than the last time I was here,” quipped Malloy as he addressed a group of town officials and employees gathered in front of Town Hall.

Malloy said he was proud of the ways towns such as Stonington responded to the blizzard and said people of the state listened to warning and stayed off the roads.

Turning to the town highway department workers, Malloy said that if storms like the January blizzard “is the new normal” it may be time to get them some heavier pieces of equipment. The town had to request aid from the National Guard which brought in massive pieces of equipment to help clears school parking lots and driveways after the storm.

Crouse thanked the governor for authorizing the use of National Guard.

“And today, the governor has returned to make good on his promise to help us,” Crouse said in introducing Malloy.

Malloy said that when he came to town in February he said the state needed to pursue the disaster aid and a team of people were able to come up with a winning argument to secure the aid even though he said federal officials are not as receptive to snowstorm aid requests compared to those for tornadoes and hurricanes.

He said he corresponded and spoke with President Obama about the disaster aid request and also worked with the state’s congressional delegation. As a former mayor of Stamford and a longtime member of that city’s finance board he said he understands how storm costs can be devastating to a community’s budget.

“But we delivered. You delivered,” he said. "We’re in this together.”

Commissioner of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Dora Schriro and Malloy said the state will not only work to make sure towns and cities get the money they identified in their preliminary damage assessments but other costs they have identified since submitting the preliminary assessments.

“You’ll see us around until we get you as much money as we possibly can,” she said.

Malloy said Windham, Tolland and New London County have been approved for aid, and the state is working to get aid for New Haven County as well. State agencies and the Mashantucket and Mohegan tribal nations are also eligible.

Crouse said Stonington is seeking 75 percent reimbursement for the $109,000 it expended during the two costliest days of the storm.

Overall, the town has exceeded its $250,000 snow removal budget this winter by $197,000.

The press conference ended with Crouse inviting Malloy to return to the town this summer when it is warm.

“Will you be serving lobster? asked Malloy.

“I’ll take you myself,” Crouse said.

j.wojtas@theday.com

@joewojtas