Governors Told They Won’t Get FEMA Disaster Money

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(TNS) – State officials plan to appeal FEMA’s decision not to issue a disaster declaration following torrential rain storms Sept. 11-13 that caused a broken water main and a boil-water order in the city.

FEMA told governors in Massachusetts and Rhode Island this week that it won’t issue disaster declarations covering Hampden and Worcester counties and Bristol County, Rhode Island , saying the damage was not extensive enough.

A federal disaster declaration would have allowed Springfield to seek federal money reimbursing the $5 million it spent repairing the washed out water main. A declaration would have also made farms and businesses eligible for low interest loans.

In Springfield, four inches of rain fell in one night, uncovering a 36-inch pressurized water main off St. James Avenue and Liberty Street that had been buried 10-feet deep in the woods behind the Big Y plaza. The pipe broke open.

The city lost 5 to 10 million gallons of drinking water and residents were under a boil water order for three days after the washout out of fears that the rupture and low water pressure allowed contamination to enter the system.

Gov. Maura Healey’s administration has 60 days to appeal.

“Our administration is deeply disappointed that FEMA denied our request for a major disaster declaration for damage caused by extreme weather in September,” spokeswoman Karissa Hand said Tuesday. “We submitted a strong request based on the severe local impacts this storm had on our communities. We plan to appeal this decision and will do everything we can to continue our advocacy with our federal partners and support our communities.”

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said in a statement that the city extensively used FEMA funding both to repair infrastructure and to enhance it — building resilience — following the June 2011 tornado.

The city of Springfield was responsible only for $13.5 million of the tornado’s total $138 million recovery cost.

“Although I am disappointed in FEMA’s decision, this isn’t my administration’s first rodeo dealing with FEMA. From the 2011 tornado, and other natural and man-made disasters, we have had to appeal their decisions a number of times. I want to thank Governor Healey for her continued leadership on this front. I will continue to work with the Governor to make sure that Springfield receives every dime we can to help our community recover,” Sarno said in a written statement. “I will also continue to work closely with Congressman Richard Neal , who has always been my direct conduit and always very craftful in finding ways, in this case working with the Biden Administration, to relook and review the situation. … As my administration has always done in these situations, we will continue to go after any and all reimbursement opportunities that are available.”

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal commended Healey’s actions in moving quickly to support communities as they recovered from the rains.

“As the Commonwealth moves forward with an appeal, my colleagues and I stand ready to support the Governor and her continued efforts to secure the funding our communities need,” Neal said.

U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern , D- Worcester , also called on President Joe Biden to overturn FEMA’s decision. Leominster, in Worcester County and part of McGovern’s district, suffered $35 million to $40 million in damage to city streets and other facilities after the city received 9 inches of rain in just a few hours.

More than 300 people in Leominster had to be evacuated.