FEMA office to help with storm repairs
GREENWICH — A federal office has opened in the Glenville neighborhood in town to help local residents and small business owners apply for financial aid to repair damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in early September.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a Disaster Recovery Center at the Glenville Fire Station located at 266 Glenville Road. The operations began Tuesday.
President Joe Biden approved the state’s disaster declaration on Oct. 31, and federal funds are now available for assistance in rebuilding after the strong storm slammed the area, causing extensive damage to homes and businesses. More than 6 inches of rain fell on parts of Greenwich beginning on Sept. 1, flooding homes and stranding motorists in deep water.
The recovery center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.
The office is staffed by representatives from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration, who can explain disaster assistance programs, answer questions about FEMA letters and provide information about repairs and rebuilding to make homes more disaster resistant.
Residents who were impacted by the major storm are asked to bring insurance information, according to FEMA. They also need to provide directions to their home and a description of the damage caused by the storm.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster, according to FEMA.
As of Tuesday, more than 1,195 survivors have registered for federal assistance, resulting in more than $2.7 million dollars in aid that has been approved, FEMA said.
Impact of flood
In parts of Pemberwick, storm Ida sent “literally a waterfall” of water flowing into the neighborhood — and into area homes.
“The people there have been devastated,” First Selectman Fred Camillo said at the time. “There was lots of damage all over town because we were hit so hard. But here in Pemberwick, there were whole neighborhoods that were devastated.”
A culvert near the sports field in Pemberwick Park drew in rainwater, Camillo said. During the storm, water poured out in the West Lyon Farm and Weaver Street areas, heading downhill and spilling out into the neighborhood, Camillo said. The baseball field, which was partially washed away in the storm, also needed emergency repairs, he said.
The devastating floodwaters also caused extensive damage at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Byram, with water cascading into the building during the overnight storm. The flooding hit the church and the parsonage, destroying a kitchen, two furnaces, two water heaters, a washer and dryer, chairs, tables and other items.
The church will reubuild the lower level, where the boiler and kitchen were relocated. Also, a parishioner who lived in the basement of the parsonage lost all his personal items and was forced to relocate.
Residents have about 60 days from the disaster declaration to file an application with FEMA, and town leaders are aiming to alert the public about the filing process.
“It is my hope that we all will be able to rebuild a stronger Greenwich,” said First Selectman Fred Camillo, who posted a number of useful links on the town’s website.