The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to supplement Commonwealth, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storm and flooding from March 2 to March 3, 2018.
Federal funding is available to the Commonwealth, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm and flooding in Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures throughout the Commonwealth.
James N. Russo has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Russo said additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
FEDERAL AID PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Donald J. Trump’s disaster declaration issued for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Assistance for Commonwealth, Tribal, and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:
- Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to Commonwealth, tribal and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)
- Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas, and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, Commonwealth administered.)
- Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by Commonwealth, tribal, and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, Commonwealth administered.)
How to Apply for Assistance:
Application procedures for Commonwealth, tribal, and local governments will be explained at a series of applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the Commonwealth from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.twitter.com/femaspox, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Brock Long’s activities at www.twitter.com/fema_brock.