Connecticut has eight geographically diverse counties. The areas most affected with wind and water damage were Hartford and Fairfield counties. Hartford County includes 29 municipalities with a 1998 population of 828,200. Fairfield County includes 23 municipalities with a 1998 population of 838,362. C. State Economic and Financial Data Connecticut's economy continues to expand albeit at a more sustainable pace.
Personal income continues to grow, achieving real gains above and beyond the rate of inflation.
The State Constitution limits appropriations to the growth in personal income or inflation, whichever is greater. The Governor has instituted a statewide hiring freeze and asked for agency allotment reductions to assure compliance with the cap while conserving limited State resources for any further contingencies. Within the past year, the State received a USDA Disaster Declaration for crop damage caused by the severe summer drought. Program Funds 1. Connecticut has closed all of its Presidentially-declared Public Assistance disasters.