Easton Looks For FEMA Payback For Hurricane Expenses

EASTON, Conn. - Costs associated with Hurricane Sandy are $275,000 for Easton, with up to 100 percent of it to be reimbursed by FEMA, Ed Nagy, director of public works said.

A fallen tree at Aspetuck Cemetery on Black Rock Turnpike will be cut down Saturday.
Photo Credit: *Ken Liebeskind*

by Ken Liebeskind

11/16/2012 2:00 p.m.

In the past, FEMA paid 75 percent of the costs but this year they have agreed to pay 100 percent of the costs for the first 10 days after the storm, Nagy said. But pay back can be slow.

"We were paid for Hurricane Irene and the snow storm in January of last year, but we're still waiting for payment for the October [2011] snow storm," he said.

Most of the damage to Easton was fallen trees, with Black Rock Turnpike still inundated with downed trees and debris.

The Old Samuel Staples school building at 660 Morehouse Road suffered roof damage and a library fence blew over, which accounts for most of the damage to town buildings, Nagy said.

Most of the costs associated with the storm come from Police and Fire department overtime, he said.

"The tragedy of the storm was the loss of the firefighter (Russell Neary) and the extensive tree damage," Nagy said.

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