Western CT Floods – August 18, 2024
On August 18, 2024, areas of Connecticut experienced historic flooding caused by excessive rainfall amounting to over 15 inches in some areas. Parts of New Haven, Fairfield, and Litchfield Counties saw as much as 3 inches of rainfall per hour, in addition to major river flooding from the Housatonic, Naugatuck, and Little Rivers. Some residents and businesses in these areas were significantly impacted.
In response to the damage caused by the floods, the Governor signed a State of Civil Preparedness Emergency and submitted a request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a federal emergency declaration for the impacted counties. The federal government approved the emergency declaration, which allows Connecticut the opportunity to receive federal resources to assist with the recovery efforts.
As of September 20, 2024, President Biden approved Governor Lamont’s request for a major disaster declaration. With this declaration, federal funding will be available to impacted individuals in Fairfield, New Haven, and Litchfield counties.
Resources for Residents and Businesses Affected by the August 18, 2024 Floods
The following resources are available for residents and businesses who have been impacted by the floods.
- Residents and businesses who have experienced damage to their property from the floods can apply for federal assistance through FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by phone: 800-621-3362. The FEMA phone lines are available 7:00am-10:00pm, 7 days a week.
- Note: Deadline to apply for assistance for this event through FEMA is November 19, 2024.
- FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) are available in Connecticut for individuals with questions about FEMA assistance or are in need of assistance applying for or submitting documents to FEMA. Representatives will be available at the DRC for individuals to meet in person. . The center is fully accessible to people with disabilities and access and functional needs and services are available in English or Spanish. For reasonable accommodations or sign language interpreter when communicating with FEMA, call 1-833-285-7448. Representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA) will also be available at the Disaster Recovery Center to assist those applying for the SBA loans. Below is a list of the DRC locations:
- Southbury: Southbury Town Hall, 501 Main Street S, Southbury, CT, 06488. Open as of 10/2/2024 – Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm, Sat: 8am-4pm, Sun: 10am-2pm.
- Oxford: Town Hall, 486 Oxford Road, Oxford, CT 06478. FEMA Mobile Unit will be in lower parking lot. Open Tues-Fri (10/15-10/18/2024): 8am-6pm.
- Small businesses and nonprofits who need help with recovering from flood damage in Litchfield, Fairfield, and New Haven counties can apply for grants of up to $25,000, funded by the State of Connecticut. The State Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is offering a program through the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) for eligible businesses to apply for assistance beginning on September 3, 2024. For more information, visit https://ctwbdc.org/flood-recovery.
- Low interest loans are available to residents and businesses who have been affected by the floods through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Individuals can apply online at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance. For more information or questions, individuals can call SBA directly at 800-659-2955, Monday through Friday, 8:00am-8:00pm or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
- Businesses in New Haven, Fairfield, and Litchfield counties affected by the August flooding and seeking assistance applying for federal disaster aid from the Small Business Administration can visit local Business Recovery Centers staffed by the U.S. Small Business administration in person at the following locations in Monroe and Oxford. Walk-ins are welcome or appointments can be made by calling the U.S. Small Business Administration at 800-659-2955.
- Monroe Police Department, 7 Fan Hill Road, Monroe, CT 06468: Monday through Friday, 8:00am-6:00pm; Saturday, 10:00am-2:00pm
- Residents of Southbury, Beacon Falls, Naugatuck, Middlebury and Woodbury can contact the Southbury Food Bank who is providing food, clothing and other basic needs to those impacted by the flooding. For more information, individuals can call 203-721-0377.
- Oxford residents who experienced flood damage and need help with the cost to repair their property can contact the Town of Oxford to apply for the Oxford Victims Flood Fund. An application can be found online at https://www.oxford-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3646/f/uploads/oxford_victims_flood_fund_application_1.pdf and can be dropped off or submitted by mail at 486 Oxford Rd, Oxford, CT or via email: townclerk@oxford-ct.gov.
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SOURCE: Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security; Women’s Business Development Council; Connecticut Office of the Governor; Town of Oxford; Town of Southbury; Small Business Administration; Federal Emergency Management Agency
PREPARED BY: 211/lr
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: November2024
