Malloy: State Will Help Local Communities Facing Road Salt Shortage

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Gov. Dannel Malloy on Friday announced the state Department of Transportation is helping out cities and towns facing a shortage of road salt due to the series of storms that have hit Connecticut.

So far, 22 municipalities have informed the state they need helping acquiring more salt.

Malloy said Friday DOT has deferred its expected deliveries of salt until all the 88 cities and towns that obtain their salt under the state's contract receive what they need.

"I want to make sure my state has the salt and that that salt is distributed within our borders so that communities can keep their citizens safe," Malloy said on Friday. "We have plenty of salt. Municipalities don't. We're taking steps to make sure that municipalities have salt."

Municipalities that don't use the state contract will be able to load up on surplus DOT salt at one of six facilities around the state.

Connecticut has faced 12 snow and ice storms so far this winter, Malloy noted.

While Malloy said Thursday the state only had enough salt for one more storm, on Friday he said it had "a little more in the bin that we thought.''

Also Thursday, Malloy officially requested an emergency disaster declaration from President Barack Obama to address a potential salt shortage. The declaration could aid in municipalities acquiring more salt if it's granted.

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