Republican Gov. Phil Scott has requested a federal disaster declaration

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Republican Gov. Phil Scott has requested a federal disaster declaration for the December storm that left tens of thousands without power in Vermont during the Christmas holiday week. Scott is seeking financial aid for nine counties. He said Wednesday that the storm not only impacted those without power but created “a large financial gap for public utilities, and by extension taxpayers.” The storm in Vermont was part of a monster storm t hat stretched from the Great Lakes to the Rio Grande along the border with Mexico and buried Buffalo, New York, claiming more than 40 lives in western New York.