For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 25, 2006
Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for Massachusetts
The President today declared a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local
recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding
beginning on May 12, 2006, and continuing.
The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in the counties of Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs,
low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to
help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the
disaster.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures statewide.
R. David Paulison, Acting Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Elizabeth Turner as the
Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the
affected area.
The Agency said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and
more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after
the assessments are completed.
The Agency said that residents and business owners who sustained losses
in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by
registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling
1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech
impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6
p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
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