Gov. Dannel Malloy announced Tuesday that Connecticut farms damaged by Monday's tornado are eligible for government assistance to help jump-start recovery efforts.
During a visit to the OJ Thrall Farm in Windsor, Malloy said affected farms can now apply for the Production Loss Assistance Needed Today (PLANT) grants unveiled June 23.
"Yesterday's tornado ripped through farmland, delivering the latest blow in a series of storms that have inflicted threatening wounds to some of our state's farms," Malloy said at the OJ Thrall Farm in Windsor on Tuesday. "I want to be very clear about the fact that these small businesses have my support and are eligible to apply for this special assistance to get back on their feet."
The Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Agriculture are offering a total of $5 million in grants, and will work with the Connecticut Farm Bureau to award the grants.
Grant requests must be submitted by July 15, according to a press release from the governor's office.
Malloy also signed a Declaration of Civil Preparedness Emergency to help with debris removal in East Windsor, Greenwich, Stamford and Windsor Locks.
According to the governor's office, this declaration allow the state to help remove debris and wreckage that might threaten public health or safety from publicly or privately owned land.
“While yesterday’s tornadoes in Hartford County and Fairfield County caused property damage, we are most of all grateful that no lives were lost during these flash storms. This declaration will help the residents in the impacted towns to expedite debris removal,” Malloy said in a statement.
Malloy visited Sports World at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to survey the damage in East Windsor.
The tornado struck while summer camp was underway. Sports World counselors acted quickly to bring the campers to safety just before the storm tore apart the dome.
A second tornado struck Greenwich and Stamford Monday morning.
Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut