Connecticut will seek $3.2 billion in federal aid to shore up the state’s infrastructure after Hurricane Sandy wrought substantial damage, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced yesterday.
Malloy informed the Connecticut congressional delegation that he would seek $620 million for the state and its municipalities for prevention and storm mitigation measures, according to a Nov. 29 statement from the governor’s office.
He will seek an additional $2.5 billion that would go toward upgrading electrical transmission systems, replacing and strengthening existing infrastructure, the relocation of power lines underground and the establishment of microgrids that could supply backup power to select areas in the event of outages.
“Changing weather patterns are a reality, and we must assume that the worst Mother Nature can throw at us hasn’t happened yet,” Malloy said in a statement. “This funding would allow us to invest in a few areas that would put us in a better position to handle the inevitable when it occurs.”
Malloy said the state has incurred more than $1 billion in combined damage from Tropical Storm Irene, the October 2011 nor’easter and Hurricane Sandy.
