The Healey administration is asking President Biden to rethink FEMA’s rejection of the Bay State’s request for emergency aid following final fall’s devastating flooding.
According to a letter Gov. Maura Healey despatched to the president on Monday by the use of FEMA Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich, the governor was “extremely disappointed” by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s February determination to disclaim federal help to the state and the communities impacted by flooding and heavy rain final September.
“These storms were devastating for our communities. I saw the impacts firsthand – homes and businesses were destroyed, roadways and bridges were inaccessible, and some residents had to be evacuated,” the governor wrote.
“Six months later, they are still rebuilding. The state has done all that we can to support their recovery, but the needs far outpace our available resources,” she continued.
The Herald was with Healey in Worcester County final fall whereas she was surveying the injury alongside an overwhelmed Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella.
“You get an inch or two inches of rain in a weather event that is two or three days, that’s a tough one,” the Mazzarella mentioned on the time. “We’re talking anywhere from nine to 11 inches of rain in as few as four hours. There is no system that can absorb that amount of rain.”
The rain was sturdy sufficient it washed the ballast away from beneath the MBTA’s Fitchburg line between the Wachusett and Shirley stops, and MassDOT needed to ship divers into the Nashua River to survey the bridge above on Route 13. Hundreds of individuals had been evacuated from low mendacity land on account of fears the storm had broken a pair of dams.
Standing subsequent to the Mayor final September, Healey was clear her administration could be swift to pursue federal assist from the Biden Administration beneath the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which permits the president to declare a serious catastrophe.
Despite thousands and thousands in injury to properties, companies, and public property, FEMA denied the Healey Administration’s request for support.
“Based on our review of all the information available, it has been determined that the damage caused by this event was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, local governments, and voluntary agencies to recover from,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell wrote.
Neighboring Providence County, in Rhode Island, Healey identified in her attraction letter, was impacted by the identical storm, has related demographics, and obtained support.
“I urge you to please reconsider our request and help us deliver the relief that Massachusetts cities and towns desperately need,” the governor mentioned in closing.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”