Immediate Assistance
Emergencies
If floodwaters pose an immediate threat to your life or property, don't hesitate to call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.
General Help
Mass 211 partners with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and local offices of emergency management to provide citizens with critical information and non-emergency assistance before, during and after emergency or disaster events. The Mass 211 Emergency and Disaster Services Line relieves pressure on 9-1-1 and emergency response teams by providing contact center services for citizens needing critical non-emergency public information and referrals for food, housing, financial assistance, etc.
Call 2-1-1 or visit https://www.helpsteps.com.
Debris Removal/Home Cleanup
The Red Cross and Salvation Army have delivered home cleanup kits to Leominster in North Attleboro.
Pickup locations:
Leominster Office of Emergency Management, 37 Carter St.
North Attleboro is currently out of cleanup kits. Contact the Police Department non-emergency line to request resources: 508-695-1212
Home Cleanup Hotline
The Home Cleanup Hotline is open to help individuals affected by flooding in Massachusetts. Residents can call 978-219-6107 to be connected with volunteers who can assist with fallen trees; drywall, flooring and appliance removal; tarping roofs; and mold mitigation. All services are free and the hotline will remain open through Friday, Sept. 29.
Mental Health
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Call or text 1-800-985-5990
Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.”
For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Callers: To connect directly to an agent in American Sign Language, click the "ASL Now" button on the DDH website or call 1-800-985-5990 from your videophone.
Educational Resources
Safety Before, During, and After Flooding
Dealing with Mold
Top 10 Tips for Rebuilding Healthy Homes After a Disaster | HUD
Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters | HUD
Insurance & Consumer Safety (from the Division of Insurance)
Consumer Safety & Disaster Information
Guide to Disaster and Emergency Insurance Preparations
FAQs Regarding Homeowner's Insurance Claims
Taxes and Records
Financial Assistance
SBA Disaster Loans
The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an Administrative declaration of a disaster for flooding and severe weather that occurred on August 8. All residents and businesses that were affected in the Counties of Essex, Suffolk and Middlesex may be eligible for an SBA loan to help them recover from the flooding event.
SBA will operate two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to provide loan application assistance. The dates, times and locations are listed below. More information: SBA Disaster Loan Assistance for Aug. 8 2023.
North Andover
North Andover Town Hall
120 Main St.
North Andover, MA 01845
Monday September 25, 11:00am-6:00pm
Tuesday-Friday September 26-29, 9:00am-6:00pm
Saturday September 30, 10:00am-2:00pm
Lawrence
Lawrence Senior Center
155 Haverhill St.
Lawrence, MA 01840
Monday October 2, 11:00am-6:00pm
Tuesday-Friday October 3-6, 9:00am-6:00pm
Saturday October 7, 10:00am-2:00pm
USDA Rural Development
Single Family Housing Repairs Loans and Grants
What it is: Low-interest loans and grants for home repairs, improvements, or modernizations.
Eligibility Requirements: For loans, the homeowner must meet the income classification for very low income in their county. For grants, the homeowner must also be 62 or older.
Employment
What it is: Cash benefits for unemployed workers
Eligibility Requirements: Workers unemployed through no fault of their own
Financial Counseling
For Individuals and Families: Financial counseling can help you make decisions about how to move forward with rebuilding your life after a disaster. These counseling agencies have trained staff that can help you develop a budget for your emergency assistance funds, determine critical financial items that need to be addressed, manage your creditors and more.
National Counselors Available By Phone
Project Porchlight 877-833-1742
Operation Hope 888-387-4673
Guidance & Resources for Farms
The Massachusetts Division of Agricultural Resource's Produce Safety Division has developed guidance to help farmers navigate the decisions that need to be made when dealing with flood impacts.
To assist farmers in evaluating flood-damaged crops to ensure compliance with state and federal law, MDAR’s Produce Safety Team has developed “Handling Flooded Produce: What Farmers Need to Know and Conducting Risk Assessments.”
Report Damage
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is initiating an effort to determine whether the Commonwealth and any of its counties may be eligible to receive federal disaster assistance under a Presidential declaration as a result of the September 11-13, 2023 Severe Storms and Flooding.
This information will be used to determine whether the Commonwealth may be eligible to request federal disaster assistance and whether there is a basis for engaging in the second step of the eligibility process – formal FEMA/State Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs).
The form can be accessed at the following link:
https://forms.office.com/g/XZXP1mUVXg
For assistance with the form, to submit by phone, or for access in multiple languages, residents and businesses should call Mass 2-1-1 (x 20). The link will be available for form submission through Friday, September 29, 2023.