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Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Following appeals from the Healey-Driscoll administration and the state’s congressional delegation, President Joe Biden yesterday declared that federal disaster aid will be available to two Massachusetts counties affected by severe storms and flooding last September.
The president’s action reverses an earlier decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and makes Individual Assistance available to affected businesses and eligible homeowners and renters in Bristol and Worcester counties to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts.
“I thank President Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for recognizing the scope of the impacts this extreme weather event had on many of our cities and towns in Massachusetts,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a prepared statement.
In February, FEMA had rejected the state’s initial application for a disaster declaration, saying that the scope of damage was not beyond the ability of state and local communities to cope with it.
Healey had formally requested the major disaster declaration last December, seeking federal assistance for affected areas in Bristol, Hampden and Worcester counties. She then appealed FEMA’s denial in a March 11 letter to the president and FEMA Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. Healey said FEMA’s assessment of the state’s request failed to include certain identified costs, a summary of which she provided “for your reconsideration.”
“These storms were devastating for our communities,” she wrote in March. “Homes and businesses were destroyed, roadways and bridges were inaccessible, and some residents had to be evacuated. Six months later, they are still rebuilding. The state has done all that we can to support their recovery, but the needs far outpace our available resources.”
The governor cited dozens of damaged sites in Leominster, a Springfield water main break, and the “uniqueness of New England architecture” that makes buildings more vulnerable to flood damage.
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella has said that the September storm dumped between 9 and 11 inches of rain in as few as four hours in areas of his city.
On March 26, members of the state’s congressional delegation also wrote to President Biden and FEMA to support Healey’s appeal, saying it is “imperative that communities see strong partnership among federal, state, and local governments to deliver when residents need it most,” especially in the face of increasing climate change impacts.
In addition to Individual Assistance, Healey requested Public Assistance for Hampden and Worcester counties, which would provide reimbursement for eligible storm-related expenses incurred by state agencies and municipalities. Her appeal of FEMA’s denial of this aid remains under review.
Federal aid
The now-approved federal Individual Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster, according to a statement from the White House.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire Commonwealth.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses last September in the designated areas can begin applying for federal assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Those using a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or other relay services can give FEMA the number for that service.
The president said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments. Robert Fogel of FEMA has been appointed to coordinate federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
State response
In response to the severe weather last September, Healey implemented the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, activated the state’s Regional Emergency Operations Centers, and declared a State of Emergency.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency worked with local and federal officials at FEMA Region 1 to help communities assess potential reimbursable damage caused by the disaster, and the administration launched a website to centralize available resources for residents, businesses and communities.
The Healey-Driscoll administration also secured millions in state funding from a supplemental budget to help communities across Massachusetts affected by severe weather and flooding in 2023. The administration distributed the first round of these relief funds in January, with plans to distribute the remaining $5 million as soon as possible after the resolution of the remaining appeal.
For businesses, the U.S. Small Business Administration has issued a fact sheet on Business Physical Disaster Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans available for Bristol and Worcester counties, as well as Economic Injury Disaster Loans only for Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk and Plymouth counties, related to the severe storms of Sept. 11-13, 2023. (Also available in Spanish.)