ADVISORY: Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy is urging all state residents and business owners who experienced property damage from Hurricane Irene to report those damages to the state’s free Infoline by dialing 2-1-1. This will be used to help the state’s disaster declaration request from FEMA. More information linked here. Data will be collected starting immediately. The 2-1-1 Infoline will be fielding calls seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Report damage by dialing 2-1-1 or go online at www.211ct.org.

To see an online album of the storm's effect on Hammonasset Beach State Park, visit Friends of Hammonasset (FOH) Facebook page – and those who wish to help – consider becoming a member of this non-profit group to help with dune restoration work and support other efforts in the park. The photo above is courtesy of FOH – click on it to access the group's Facebook page. The photo here shows the Meigs Point jetty after the storm, with the top layer of stones now gone.

Governor Dannel Malloy and DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith announced a comprehensive business assistance program to help companies impacted by the hurricane.

The Governor's news briefings to update Connecticut residents with the latest recovery information are available in their entirety via CT-N, Connecticut Network. View online via streaming video or on basic or expanded basic cable TV in most areas. CT-N and CT-N.com are managed and operated by the Connecticut Public Affairs Network, a not-for-profit company.

How to report storm-related damage to farms, link here.

“This storm had a tremendous impact on residents and businesses alike. As we move forward in our recovery efforts, I want to ensure that businesses that were affected get the financial and technical help they need in a timely fashion,” said the Governor. “Providing this type of assistance will ensure Connecticut companies get back to business, which in turn will help the state’s economy stay on track in the wake of this devastating storm.”

Businesses sustaining damage will be eligible for assistance, including bridge financing and loans covering uninsured losses, through the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

Agricultural businesses are eligible for funding.

(Left) The Connecticut National Guard took Governor Dannel P. Malloy on a helicopter flight across the state on Monday, Aug. 29, 2011 – the day after Hurricane Irene struck – to provide the Governor with an aerial survey of the storm's damage. This is image is from an online album of that flight.

Highlights include:

Loans of up to $200,000 to companies for storm-related damage, including property, machinery and equipment, and working capital;

Loan guarantees of up to $200,000 will be provided to banks and other lenders to spur local lending to businesses impacted by the storm;

Grants will be available to businesses for assistance in disaster recovery, such as temporary help and training; and technical assistance, linking businesses to a wide array of state and federal resources.

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy's news briefings can be seen via TV, radio, or online live via the Connecticut Network (CT-N) , which is linked here.

Access useful information that includes CL&P, United Illuminating, Northeast Utilities and a town-by-town outage map, at the state of Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy Hurricane Irene resource center, www.ct.gov/irene.

The resource center site includes telephone numbers, web sites, current roadway incidents and closures for state roads, an interactive map, Connecticut Department of Insurance Hurricane Irene Insurance Resource (800-203-3447), links.

Twitter accounts listed on the state of Connecticut site provide a way to receive minute-by-minute updates from utilities, FEMA, the Governor, the Red Cross, etc.

Note: Since it is hurricane season, those who wish to monitor weather patterns may access the National Weather Service (NWS) site via the agency's storm cloud logo to the right.