Assistance for homeowners, renters and businesses in the 7 county area including Essex, Middlesex, Worcester, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth Counties was authorized under a Major Federal Disaster Declaration issued by President Barack Obama after a review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's analysis of Governor Patrick's request for federal assistance for those most impacted by the flooding beginning on March 12, 2010 and continuing.

Individual Assistance Programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) include Individuals and Households Programs (IHP), Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Legal Assistance, Tax Relief, and Small Business Administration Disaster Loans is available to assist individuals and businesses in their recovery from the impacts of flooding.

Individuals and business owners, who sustained losses in the designated counties, can initiate the application for assistance process by calling the FEMA Teleregistration numbers: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired or registering on-line at www.fema.gov. The toll-free Teleregistration numbers will operate from 7:00am to 10:00pm, 7 days a week until further notice.