A deadline of Dec. 2, 2024 has been imposed for Hartford residents or non-resident property owners to apply to the Hartford Flood Relief and Compensation Program, according to Comptroller Sean Scanlon.
Scanlon said the deadline is needed due to the “volume of applications already received and because the program is funded through American Rescue Plan dollars that must be allocated by the end of the year.”
The Hartford Flood Compensation Program, which began accepting applications last fall, was created in the summer of 2023 to provide relief to Hartford residents who suffered flood damage to their homes or businesses.
Flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, which has plagued residents for years, gained legislators’ attention through residents’ advocacy. The North End, with a high concentration of poverty, is among the areas of the city most impacted. The money comes from the 2024-2025 state budget through through American Rescue Plan dollars.
An additional $4 million in state money was allocated this year to aid Hartford flood victims, providing a huge boost to dwindling funds. The program started with $5 million.
Scanlon said that, since September 2023, the fund has distributed more than $6 million to 447 Hartford residents and property owners impacted by flooding.
“HFCP has approved more than 446 applications, awarding more than $6 million to Hartford residents and business owners impacted by flooding, with an average claim payout of $13,000,” he said in a statement. “The program has received 650 applications to date and has disbursed more than $6.6 million in available funds, inclusive of administrative expenditures. By setting the December 2 deadline, the goal is to capture the estimated need of Hartford residents and business owners who have not already been compensated.”
Scanlon said the program “helped keep businesses open, allowed families to stay in their homes, and compensated people for irreplaceable items lost in floods. If you or your business have experienced damage as a result of flooding, we encourage you to apply before the December 2nd deadline.”.
“The Hartford Flood Relief and Compensation Program provides funding to families and businesses who felt like their problems were being pushed to the side,” Speaker of the House Matt Ritter said in the statement. “We listened, and the program committed millions of dollars to ensure their homes could be repaired and remediated, and their possessions replaced.”
Program Administration Dr. Gary Rhule said it was helped “residents and non-resident businesses” of Hartford affected by flooding.
“The feedback from residents has been overwhelmingly positive in their experience with the processing of their applications, inspections, and approval of claims,” he said, in the statement. “As we near the close of the program, we thank all the implementation partners that helped us to start up quickly, reach residents, and administer the program.”
Repeated flooding brought an end to this CT business. ‘My heart was crying, because we work hard.’
“Blue Hills Civic Association is honored to have worked on behalf of North Hartford residents (as well as residents throughout the city) in assistance with applications through the Hartford Flood Relief and Compensation Program. We urge residents and nonresident property and business owners to apply prior to the deadline.”
Hartford residents or property owners seeking to apply must visit osc.ct.gov/HartfordFlood or Blue Hills Civic Association (Colin Bennett Building: 1229 Albany Avenue, Third Floor, Suite 306, Hartford) to obtain an application.
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