President Declares Major Disaster For Massachusetts
Release Date: May 16, 2007
Release Number: HQ-07-105
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for Massachusetts to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and inland and coastal flooding during the period of April 15-25, 2007.
FEMA Administrator David Paulison said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for Massachusetts by President Bush. The President's action makes federal funding 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 the severe storms and inland and coastal flooding in Barnstable, Berkshire, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Plymouth Counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all jurisdictions in the commonwealth.
Paulison named Michael L. Parker as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Parker said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
| 
