Emergency Management

PRESIDENTIAL DISASTER DECLARATION BRINGS ‘IA’ FLOOD AID

On Thursday, May 25th, the Romney Administration announced that federal aid would become available to Massachusetts individuals and businesses hardest hit by the most recent flooding events. The assistance was authorized under a major Federal Disaster Declaration issued by President George W. Bush after a review of Governor Romney’s request for federal assistance for those most severely impacted by the flooding beginning on May 12, 2006 and continuing. The President’s action makes Individual Assistance (IA) Programs available to affected individuals and businesses in Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk Counties. Individuals and business owners, who sustained losses in the designated counties, can initiate the application for assistance process by calling the FEMA Teleregistration numbers: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired or registering on-line at www.fema.gov. More details on Flood Aid are available at www.mass.gov/mema.

MEMA OPENS DRCs FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

In response to the devastating flooding in the Commonwealth, MEMA, in coordination with a variety of State, Federal and volunteer agencies, have opened five Disaster Recovery Centers. Beginning at 8:00am on Thursday, May 25, 2006, these DRCs were opened to provide a “one-stop” location for flood victims to obtain information about various relief programs and available assistance. The DRCs are located in Amesbury, Lawrence, Lowell, Melrose, and Peabody. Further details about the DRCs and the types of assistance available, go to www.mass.gov/mema.