Gov. Dannel P. Malloy will seek $3.2 billion in federal funds for cleanup efforts related to Hurricane Sandy.
In a conference call Thursday with the state’s congressional delegation, Malloy officials said they would seek $620 million for the state and its municipalities for storm prevention and mitigation measures ($495 million for municipalities and $125 million for the state). The additional $2.5 billion would go toward upgrading power transmission systems; replacing and improving the current electrical grid infrastructure, relocating some power lines underground and the establishing micro-grids in selected high-density areas.
Connecticut’s request for federal funds is part of some $81 billion being sought by Connecticut, New York and New Jersey for rebuilding after Sandy. New York is seeking $41 billion and New Jersey wants $36.9 billion, according to a report in the Hartford Courant.
“While our state was not impacted as severely as New York or New Jersey during Storm Sandy, we have seen substantial damage from three storms now that occurred in a little more than a year’s time.
“Changing weather patterns are a reality, and we must assume that the worst Mother Nature can throw at us hasn’t happened yet. This funding would allow us to invest in a few areas that would put us in a better position to handle the inevitable when it occurs. It would allow us to revamp our power distribution system by expanding the use of microgrids and burying power lines in high-density areas. It would give us the chance to fortify our coastline in a way that will protect us from future flooding while doing nothing to diminish the beauty of our coastline. And it would give us the ability to mitigate future environmental damage by investing in the sewage treatment plants that spill over into Long Island Sound with disturbing regularity during weather related events,” Malloy said.
Combined, Connecticut sustained more than $1 billion in damage from Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, the October nor’easter last year and Storm Sandy, Malloy said.
