Today, following the severe storms and tornados that occurred on June 1, 2011, President Barack Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered Federal aide to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery from the disaster.

The President's action makes federal funding available for individual assistance, assistance to individuals and households, to Hampden and Worcester counties and funding for public assistance, assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities, available to Hampden County.   Assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards is also available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.  All counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated county can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by web enabled mobile device at m.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 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week until further notice.

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 also is available to State 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 tornadoes in Hampden County. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Information regarding the percentage split is not yet available.  Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.