DeLauro, State and Local Officials Tour Storm Damage and Highlight Assistance for Home and Business Owners
DeLauro underscored the DEBRIS Act and fiscal year 2020 federal spending legislation that directs FEMA to cover costs of clearing fallen trees and debris
HAMDEN, CT — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, was joined by CT Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais, CT State Representative Dave Yaccarino, Hamden Mayor Curt Balzano Leng, North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda, Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, Fire Chief Paul Januszewski, Chief of Police Kevin Halloran, and Deputy Chief of Police James Lovelace on a tour of storm-damaged homes, neighborhoods, and businesses in Hamden, North Haven, Branford, and North Branford, Connecticut.
DeLauro discussed her legislation, the Diversifying Emergency Benchmarks for the Recovery of Individuals after Storms (DEBRIS) Act, to end the harmful and unnecessary ban on federal disaster relief aid to homeowners for fallen trees and debris and language she secured in federal spending legislation last year to ensure private residences receive federal support to assist with recovery from storms and natural disasters. Additionally, DeLauro joined Mais in assisting families and business owners with filing insurance claims to be reimbursed for the damage caused by the storm and encouraged residents to report uninsured costs, like fallen trees, to their respective municipality.
"Today, we see fallen trees that crumbled a family's living room, commercial property with a missing roof, entire streets blocked by fallen debris, and hear stories of water cascading down the stairs," said DeLauro. "The people of Connecticut did not have enough time to recover from Tropical Storm Isaias before being struck by this tornado. Many remain without power and are left to cover much of the costs associated with storm damage and clearing fallen trees or debris on their own. We cannot leave the hardworking families of Connecticut on their own to foot this bill. The federal government, FEMA, must help cover the costs associated with removing fallen debris from owner-occupied private residences and property."
Often, individual property insurance covers the cost associated with removing trees and debris that has fallen on someone's home or business; however, it does not cover the cost of removing debris from the surrounding the property.
The DEBRIS Act, introduced by DeLauro, would provide this missing disaster relief assistance to individuals for the purpose of clearing fallen debris that has been previously been denied by FEMA. Specifically, it adds the removal of debris from owner-occupied private residences and property, as an eligible activity for federal assistance. The DEBRIS Act would also require FEMA, through rulemaking, to amend the factors considered when evaluating a Governor's request for a major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act to include the estimated cost of removing fallen debris from owner-occupied private residences and property. Additionally, the DEBRIS Act would allow homeowners to apply for retroactive reimbursement if they paid for debris removal following the 2018 tornado.
DeLauro also used her leadership on the Appropriations Committee to include additional protections for the people of Connecticut. In fiscal year 2020 spending legislation, DeLauro was successful in securing language to remind FEMA that the removal of debris from private residences is an eligible activity for assistance under the Stafford Act.
"The people of Connecticut were hit hard by the pandemic, Isaias, and now this storm," said DeLauro. "But they are not alone. To the elected officials and community leaders who joined me on the tour today, thank you for your steadfast commitment to our neighbors and families. To the business owners and residents who opened their doors and shared their stories of recovery, thank you, and may we come back from this storm as we have so many others—stronger and more resilient."