FEMA rejects Healey’s plea for disaster relief in last year’s catastrophic flooding

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied Gov. Maura Healey’s request for disaster relief in the catastrophic storms and flooding that caused severe damage to parts of Massachusetts last September.

In a letter to Healey Sunday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said the damage from the storm — which washed away roads and threatened the security of a Leominster dam — “was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, affected local governments, and voluntary agencies.”

Healey previously declared a state of emergency on Sept. 12, after Worcester and Bristol Counties saw flash flooding and upwards of 10 inches of rain. The governor also requested a major disaster declaration for the impacted counties back in December, according to the FEMA letter.

In a statement, Healey’s office vowed to appeal FEMA’s decision.

“We submitted a strong request based on the severe local impacts this storm had on our communities,” Karissa Hand, Healey’s press secretary, said in a statement. “We plan to appeal this decision and will do everything we can to continue our advocacy with our federal partners and support our communities.” 

Healey has also instructed administration and finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz to quickly dole out $5 million in flood relief her administration set aside for flood stricken communities, according to the governor’s office.

Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella said in a response of his own that FEMA’s conclusion was “almost unbelievable” after the “mounds of documentation we submitted to FEMA and the clear visual damage that was shown to the federal government.”

He said Leominster documented a total of $35 million in city damage, as well as 1,400 flood-damaged homes and businesses.

“We are not done,” Mazzarella wrote. “Leominster has never backed down from a challenge and this is no exception. We have hired a consultant to assist us with the appeal and the Governor personally assured me last night that her team is in this fight with us.”

He said city officials will continue working with other state and federal agencies to explore alternative funding routes as they await the FEMA appeal. 

“The City of Leominster and the other communities with damage deserve this assistance,” Mazzarella wrote.

Abby Patkin

Staff Writer

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.

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