Obama declares federal disaster area in Conn.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in seven Connecticut counties after record-breaking back-to-back storms dumped more than two feet of snow and destroyed dozens of buildings.

Obama's decision was announced Thursday night. It makes money available on a cost-sharing basis to reimburse counties, towns, state agencies and nonprofit groups that dealt with the Jan. 11-12 storms.

Counties eligible for assistance include Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, New London and Tolland, together with the Tribal Lands of the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan Tribal Nations, located in New London County.

Federal aid will cover emergency protective measures in those counties and hazard mitigation measures statewide.

On Feb. 22, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy asked Obama to declare a federal disaster, saying expenses and snowfall amounts met thresholds established by federal and state emergency officials.