Community Corner

Courtney, Apel: Vernon Getting More than $2 Million for Storm-Related Costs

The money should be in hand by October, Courtney said.

Vernon will be receiving more than $2 million in federal disaster relief funds to pay back expenses incurred while cleaning up after the October snowstorm, U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney and Vernon Mayor George Apel said on Monday.

Courtney said that Vernon's tally from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is $2,184,998.

The funds will be delivered to the state, and should be distributed to the town by October, he indicated in a news release. The snowstorm was preceeded by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ireme just two months earlier.

"The town of Vernon did a tremendous job last year protecting their communities during a one-two punch of devastating storms," Courtney said. "Perhaps more importantly in a challenging fiscal environment, they also did the important work of thoroughly documenting the damage incurred and the costs associated with clean-up in order to make a solid, successful claim to FEMA. Such reimbursements are not a given when storms hit, and town leaders deserve great credit for securing these funds."

The town has been undertaking a complicated filing process in an effort to record all storm-related expenses.

Apel issued the following statement: "These reimbursements will arrive from August to October, 2012 directly to our Finance Department. I am relieved to know that our General Fund will be replenished with the return of these funds.    The Town of Vernon is very thankful for the many members of our finance and administrative staff for their work with the inordinate amount of paper work involved in recording this type of event. It is also of the utmost importance to remember that our first Responders and town employees were the strength and core of our emergency response and they deserve our respect and thanks."

Courtney is a Vernon resident.

Emergency Management Director Michael Purcaro said that applying for federal aid from the storm has been a constant process.For example, the town will be filing for aid after clearing damaged trees from the high school running trails and on routes along the rails to trails system, he said. 

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