Ice Storm Assistance Process Advancing
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has obligated over $43 million to reimburse the seven designated MA counties for the December 11th Ice Storm. More than 286 MA local communities, state agencies and private non-profit organizations in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Worcester, Middlesex and Essex Counties are in the process of applying for federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program in order to address the effects of the storm and resulting damages. Impacted communities should look for MEMA contracts that will be distributed prior to any allocation of Public Assistance money. These contracts will satisfy federal and state oversight requirements to verify proper use, matching funds, and utilization of the recovery money. Expedient execution and return of these contracts will facilitate immediate release and proper distribution of FEMA Public Assistance money. Funds are made available to the Commonwealth, through MEMA, once proper processing and approvals are accomplished. MEMA distributes the funds back to the applicants based upon the eligible projects and associated costs submitted by the applicant and subsequently approved by both MEMA and FEMA. The Federal Public Assistance Program reimburses communities with funds that provide 75% of the approved cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and the repair, replacement or restoration of damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. State and local applicants are responsible for the remaining 25% of approved projects. The Recovery Process continues to be coordinated from the MEMA/FEMA Joint Field Office (JFO) located in Holyoke, MA. For more information regarding the Commonwealth’s Ice Storm Disaster, go to the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=10968.