Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to Massachusetts and ordered federal aid to supplement the commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a severe winter storm and snowstorm during the period of January 11-12, 2011.
Federal funding is available to commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work resulting from the severe winter storm and snowstorm in the counties of Berkshire, Essex, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
In addition, assistance is available to the commonwealth and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures, including snow assistance, for a continuous 48-hour period during or proximate to the incident period in the counties of Essex, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. This assistance will be provided for a period of 72 hours for Berkshire County.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties in 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 requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.