Healey-Driscoll Administration Distributes $5 Million in Disaster Relief Funds to Communities Impacted by Severe Storms

Healey-Driscoll Administration Distributes $5 Million in Disaster Relief Funds to Communities Impacted by Severe Storms:

 

Residents and businesses reminded to apply for FEMA assistance by July 15 at disasterassistance.gov

 

Boston, MA -- The Healey-Driscoll Administration has distributed nearly $5 million of state disaster relief funding to 13 communities that were impacted by severe flooding and weather last September. This is the remaining funding from the $15 million in disaster relief provided by the supplemental budget signed by Governor Maura Healey in December 2023.

 

This funding is being distributed after Governor Maura Healey successfully appealed to President Joe Biden to provide federal disaster aid for businesses and eligible homeowners and renters who incurred storm-related repair costs in September 2023. The President authorized a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance that covers Bristol and Worcester counties. However, the Governor’s appeal for Public Assistance for Hampden and Worcester counties, which would provide reimbursement for eligible storm-related expenses incurred by state agencies and municipalities, was not approved. As a result, the administration is now distributing the remaining $5 million in state aid that it had set aside while the appeal was pending.

 

“The Lieutenant Governor and I saw firsthand how last year’s severe weather devastated residents, businesses and communities across the country,” said Governor Maura Healey. “While we were proud to have successfully appealed to the President for federal assistance for resident and businesses, we know our municipalities need help too. That’s why we are delivering this $5 million directly to them to help with their efforts to rebuild. We’re grateful to the Legislature for their partnership to make these funds available.”

 

“It’s important for us to help local communities recover and make sure they have the infrastructure to withstand these severe storms,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “As a former Mayor, I know how much municipalities rely on state and federal assistance when disaster strikes, and I’m confident this funding will make a difference for them.”

 

"It’s important that communities see strong partnership among federal, state, and local governments in preparing for and responding to severe weather events,” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Dawn Brantley. “I’m grateful for Governor Healey’s leadership in pursuing federal assistance to supplement the state’s recovery efforts, and for the dedication of FEMA Region 1 and the team assigned to this Individual Assistance declaration.”

 

The towns receiving funds are: North Attleboro, Chicopee, Springfield, Middlefield, Pepperell, Westford, Bridgewater, Scituate, Leominster, Lunenberg, Princeton, Sterling and Worcester.

 

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) recently established a webpage at mass.gov/recover to centralize information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on available federal assistance and address frequently asked questions. The site provides information on Individual Assistance available to residents and businesses in Bristol and Worcester counties through FEMA, which benefits survivors of a disaster by directly assisting those who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs. Those eligible should apply for assistance by July 15,2024 at disasterassistance.gov. The webpage also provides information on low-interest personal and business loans available through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

 

Statements of Support:

 

Mayor of Leominster Dean Mazzarella:
“We are so grateful to the Governor and Lt Governor for their constant support of the City of Leominster since the September flood.  On September 11 Governor Healey sent a full state team to help us respond, she came the next day to survey the damage, and her advocacy never stopped through the FEMA application and appeal process.  Together with Senator Cronin and Representative Higgins, the Healey/Driscoll Administration has announced $3.6 million in funds to start to repair damage to city roads and other public infrastructure.  We are very grateful for their tireless work to help the City of Leominster, its residents, and businesses.”

 

Mayor of Chicopee John Vieau:
“This funding will help Chicopee address the expenses and repair costs from the damages we sustained in last September’s storm and flooding.  The damages were unplanned and stretched our finances, so the funding from the state is appreciated.”

 

Mayor of Springfield Domenic J. Sarno:
“I am very appreciative of Governor Healey advocating for Springfield with FEMA. Even though FEMA did not step up for us, Governor Healey did with her state monies. This disaster relief funding will help me pare down the nearly $5 million I had to allocate to make sure our residents and businesses had proper water services ASAP. Thank you, again, Governor Healey.”

 

North Attleborough Town Manager Michael Borg:
"I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Gov. Healey and her administration for allocating this critical disaster relief funding to our community as it's a significant step in ensuring that North Attleborough fully recovers from the severe floods that occurred this past September. I would also like to acknowledge state Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxboro) and state Rep. Adam Scanlon (D-North Attleborough) for their continued advocacy on behalf of our community, which was instrumental in securing these funds. Thanks to the effort of everyone who stood by North Attleborough during this challenging time, we will be able to repair and replace disaster-damaged facilities and infrastructure. Tomorrow, North Attleborough will stand stronger thanks to the proactive actions taken by the Commonwealth today."

 

Westford Town Manager Kristen Las:
“The Town of Westford is pleased to received $20,000 in in disaster relief funding that will go towards the cost of repairing a large sink hole that formed in East Prescott Street as a result of the early September storm.” 

 

Sterling Town Administrator William Caldwell:
“The funds provided were invaluable in supporting the repairs that were required. This alleviated the burden on the operating budget that funded the repairs throughout the year.”

 

Scituate Town Administrator James Boudreau:
“The Town is thankful for the disaster relief funding allocated by the Commonwealth. With storms seeming to be coming with increasing frequency and ferocity, we rely on our strong relationships with our State and Federal partners to assist us in keeping our residents safe and helping them to recover.”

 

Worcester City Manager Eric D. Batista:
“The City of Worcester appreciates and thanks the Healey-Driscoll Administration for its leadership and support to provide ongoing assistance of disaster and emergency relief funds to help communities recover when impacted by severe storms and other emergencies.” 

 

Bridgewater Town Manager Michael Dutton:
"Bridgewater appreciates the tenacity of the Governor's office in pursuing this critical funding for cities and towns affected by last September's destructive storms.  The Governor and Lt. Governor understand the very real budget constraints that impact us every day.  When disasters strike, our budgets can't cover the expenses we have to incur.  Every little bit helps our residents.  We appreciate the administration's commitment to our communities."