Town granted reimbursement for January snowstorm expenses

Date: 8/1/2011

Aug. 1, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow has received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement for expenses incurred during the severe snowstorm on Jan. 11 and 12.

The town will officially receive $66,587.04 from FEMA disaster relief funds.

Heavy snows that fell on Jan. 21 and 22 totaled 22 inches in accumulation in some areas and President Barack Obama declared a major disaster for Massachusetts on March 7. Federal funding was made available to Berkshire, Hampshire, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk counties at that time. Hampden County was designated for snow assistance on May 3.

“The majority of the funds were used by the DPW [Department of Public Works], but some was used by the fire department who diligently worked to ensure public safety,” Sean Kelley, senior project manager of the DPW, said.

Kelley also told Reminder Publications that he is working with FEMA on reimbursement for costs associated with the June 1 tornadoes.

While East Longmeadow was not directly affected by the storm, the town was without power for as long as three days in some areas.

“The town incurred expenses for emergency services in part because the DPW was working around the clock bringing generators to our water and sewer stations throughout the town,” he said.

Additional police and fire personnel were also on hand, requiring overtime pay.

“One of the concerns of the Fire Department was the risk of fire once the power turns back on,” Kelley said. “There’s not only the risk of surges, but also people forgetting they had things on — like stoves — when the power went out for three days.”

The town will also attempt to get reimbursed for expenses accumulated in the creation the emergency center the town set up at Birchland Park Middle School and related labor costs.

Kelley did not know what the exact expense to the town was as of press time.