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–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 atdisasterassistance.gov. The webpage also provides information on low-interest personal and business loans available through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).