FEMA Arrives In Norwalk To Assess Damage From Irene

Five days after Hurricane Irene blew through town, officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) arrived in Norwalk to assess the damage. On Thursday morning,  directed by Michele DeLuca, Norwalk's deputy emergency manager,  FEMA surveyed Belle island, Wilson Point, South and East Norwalk.

"They are looking for major structural damage, flooding damage, they saw the houses with trees through them," said DeLuca. "If they saw residents pumping out water from basements, they stopped by, introduced themselves, and looked around."

FEMA officials are expected to visit other parts on Norwalk affected by Hurrican Irene on Friday. This is the first phase of an extensive and tedious process that won't be resolved quickly. FEMA investigates the damage in Norwalk, but it's the city's responsibility to give them detailed reports on anything and everything that was altered by hurricane.

"We do online damage assessment reports and have residents submit data, flood damage, damage to cars, damage to property from trees," said DeLuca. "We collect that and give it to FEMA. They'll come back and do another review and then starting looking at the numbers."

The number from the storm in March of 2010 was $400,000. The city was reimbursed that amount for operational expenses,  structural damage, and capital for rebuilding. The damage from Hurricane Irene should result in a number much greater than that. Individual homeowners can submit their damage assessment only if they have been turned down by their own insurance companies.

"We tell people to take pictures,  get estimates, and damage reports," said Mayor Richard A. Moccia. "FEMA requires very extensive documentation. We will assist as best we can. But once residents go to FEMA, they have to do the individual negotiations on their own."

Per government policy, FEMA officials are not allowed to speak to the media while on location. However, the entire process is expected to take 2-3 months.

"It went very well," said DeLuca. "It's really early in the process, but it went well."

For more information on FEMA and how individuals can submit claims to be reimbursed for damages, please check out FEMA.gov.