In the midst of preparing for a possible Nor’easter, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development has approved a $54 million grant for the state to improve shoreline infrastructure and increase resiliency to combat future weather events.
Joined by his housing commissioner, and the state Congressional delegation, Malloy said Connecticut was one of a few states that received grants from the National Disaster Resiliency Competition, which was a competitive funding round offered by HUD to ensure states are prepared for future weather events. The grant will be administered by the state’s housing department, which has been the primary state agency charged with administering the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.
Congressman Joe Courtney pointed to Connecticut being located on the edge of the eastern seaboard. He said with over 300 miles of coastline, the state is particularly vulnerable to a range of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, coastal flooding, and sea-level rise.
Congressman Jim Himes said, “Today’s $54 million grant will help Bridgeport, Fairfield County, and other communities prepare for future disasters, which will save money and lives down the road. Climate change is causing these extreme weather events to be more common, so there’s not a moment to waste in our preparations.”
