FEMA will be assessing damage for those who were affected by last month’s storms.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal says the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, announced that it will perform a preliminary damage assessment following the storms and tornadoes that caused widespread damage to several communities.

FEMA's announcement comes after state officials recently petitioned the agency to help provide recovery funds.

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Sen. Blumenthal says the preliminary damage assessment is an important step toward putting together a successful request for a formal disaster declaration.

Residents in Brookfield are still cleaning up from the storm and the town’s first selectman is hoping for federal aid, but says in order to qualify, the federal government needs to declare the town a disaster area.

FEMA will tour the damage on Monday.

Sen. Blumenthal says he thinks the state has a strong case for federal aid.