There's still no definitive word on how much Vermont can expect in federal help with recovery from Tropical Storm Irene.
Deputy Administration Secretary Michael Clasen told a legislative committee on Thursday that it's expected to be January before the state can expect a firm answer.
Officials in the administration of Gov. Peter Shumlin expressed confidence earlier this year that FEMA would cover up to 90 percent of the estimated $120 million in costs tied to recovery from the storm in late August of last year.
But in late July, the administration made known that how much FEMA funding would be available was much less certain than previously had been thought.
Now Clasen says there have been some recent signs the aid will be more than it might have been.
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