Healey appeals federal disaster declaration denial for September storms

Warning that recovery needs "far outpace" what the state can offer, Gov. Maura Healey asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reconsider its denial of a major disaster declaration for strong storms that flooded parts of the state in September.

Healey on Tuesday wrote to President Joe Biden and FEMA Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich — who served for more than a dozen years in the Massachusetts House — formally appealing the agency's denial.

She said she is "concerned" that FEMA's initial assessment of the Bay State's request for a major disaster declaration "failed to include certain identified costs," and asked federal officials to perform a closer review of several impacts that stemmed from the heavy rain between Sept. 11 and 13, including dozens of damaged sites in Leominster, a Springfield water main break and the "uniqueness of New England architecture" that makes buildings more vulnerable to flood damage.

"These storms were devastating for our communities. I saw the impacts firsthand — homes and businesses were destroyed, roadways and bridges were inaccessible, and some residents had to be evacuated," Healey wrote. "Six months later, they are still rebuilding. The state has done all that we can to support our recovery, but the needs far outpace our available resources."

FEMA denied funding to support communities affected by the flooding, writing last month that its officials determined the damage "was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, local governments, and voluntary agencies to recover from," according to CBS Boston.

Congressman Jim McGovern at the time called the decision "unacceptable and unconscionable."

The agency has steered millions of dollars of funding to Massachusetts for other needs in recent months, mostly to cover staffing and testing costs related to COVID-19.

As part of her fiscal year 2025 budget bill, Healey proposed creating a new state fund to help cover disaster response and relief costs.