Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says he'll propose a state-funded program to test houses in eastern Connecticut to get a better handle on how many homeowners are experiencing failing foundations.
"We need more people to come forward," Malloy told NBC Connecticut on Wednesday night.
But Tim Heim, head of CT Coalition Against Crumbling Basements, said that is not enough and is calling for a federal investigation into crumbling foundations.
Heim said he is unsatisfied with the state investigation and wants to know what state, town and insurance companies knew about crumbling foundations.
"We don’t need testing," Heim told NBC Connecticut. "We need emergency funding for the victims today."
Malloy said Wednesday that having a more accurate count could help the state in persuading the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide financial assistance to help fix what's considered to be a naturally occurring event.
He also told NBC Connecticut that federal government should play a part in fixing homes.
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"I think the state needs to play a role but I also think the municipal government needs to play a role and really what I think is the federal government should play a much larger role," Malloy said.
Hundreds of eastern Connecticut homeowners have filed complaints about crumbling foundations. The problem has been traced to a quarry that produced a concrete mix containing an iron sulfide mineral that has apparently reacted with oxygen and water. The reaction has led to severe cracks in foundations that are very expensive to repair.
Malloy is expected to unveil his new two-year budget Feb. 8.
