President Declares Disaster For Massachusetts 

Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal aid has been made available to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Tropical Storm Irene during the period of August 27-29, 2011.

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Berkshire and Franklin.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured or underinsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to commonwealth 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 Tropical Storm Irene in Berkshire and Franklin counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation in 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 that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed. 

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov , by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362).  Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.