Connecticut Asks President Obama to Reconsider Tornado Damage Aid

Connecticut doesn’t get hit by tornadoes very often, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that most of the state’s residents don’t have wind insurance in their homeowners coverage. After all, even in places where tornadoes happen every year, protection against severe wind storms generally comes in the form of a policy rider.

It should also be no surprise, then, that when an EF-1 tornado struck Bridgeport, CT in June, not only was the property damage significant (think $3 million in Bridgeport itself, plus more in surrounding towns), Connecticut’s congressional delegation requested federal aid for tornado-related damage.

The request was denied, which is why the delegation has now asked President Obama to intercede, and reconsider the denial of aid for Fairfield County. To this end, they wrote to the President on Tuesday, pointing out that FEMAs rejection of the aid will mean property owners won’t have the money to rebuild their homes and lives.

According to Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman, and Representatives Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLaura, Jim Himes, John Larson, and Chris Murphy, most of the people affected are low-income, and fewer than 20 percent of those affected had the necessary insurance coverage.

Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell has also appealed the FEMA ruling.