Additional Aid Available For Massachusetts
Release Date: June 12, 2006
Release Number: 1642-010
» More Information on Massachusetts Severe Storms and Flooding
ANDOVER, Mass. -- Officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) announced today that the Public Assistance Grant Program has been made available for state agencies, local governments, and certain private non-profit organizations in Essex and Middlesex counties for damages due to the severe storms and flooding May 12 – 23, 2006.
Under the expanded assistance affected local governments are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. Procedures for requesting the assistance will be explained at a series of briefings for potential applicants.
This assistance is in addition to the May 25 announcement which provided for Individual Assistance (assistance to individuals, households, and businesses) for the Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (assistance to state and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards) available for the entire commonwealth. Individuals in any of the affected counties who suffered damage can register for assistance online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or TTY: 1-800-462-7585 for the speech or hearing impaired.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 06-Dec-2006 09:35:17