Norton Announces D.C. Receives Snowstorm Reimbursement Grant (09/24/2010)

Norton Announces D.C. Receives Snowstorm Reimbursement Grant

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that a federal public assistance grant of $1.2 million will be issued to reimburse the District for the large and unanticipated cost of responding to the December snowstorm that hit the Washington region. Norton, who chairs the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), held a hearing following the February snowstorms to question FEMA concerning the Presidential Declaration of Disaster for the District and other declarations for the region. The grant provides reimbursement to the D.C. government for snow removal costs and to some private non-profit organizations for emergency repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the snowstorms.

Norton said, "I was concerned that the city receive reimbursement for the devastating December snowstorm, even though the unprecedented February storms were much worse. The December storm placed a tremendous and unexpected financial burden on the city, which was already cash-strapped due to the recession."

Norton will continue to work to ensure the grant for the February snowstorms.