Communities in Massachusetts that experienced major public infrastructure damage as the result of last week's snowstorm begin the process today of assessing whether they qualify for federal and state disaster assistance.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is initiating damage assessment.
MEMA spokesperson Chris Besse says the agency is reaching out to nearly 70 coastal communities for documentation of storm damage.
Besse says that in order to qualify for federal assistance, there are cost thresholds that must be met.
“We’ll look at those damage costs that come in and if they're close to what those thresholds are," he said, "and then we’ll go forward with the process of requesting a disaster declaration with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). At this point, it’s too early to tell if we’ll meet it, but this is just the first step.”
Besse says this was not a blockbuster storm when compared to others in terms of snowfall totals and power outages — about 25,000 customers statewide lost power. He says the area of greatest concern is coastal flooding on the north shore, south shore, and in and around Boston.
“Sometimes there could be a major piece of public infrastructure seawall or a road that may be significantly compromised but may not be evident on the surface. But as officials in those communities are out there doing that damage assessment, they’ll get a better sense of what they are and sometimes the cost can add up quickly,” says Besse.
Besse says flooding, power outages, and opening emergency shelters are among the types of damage that may qualify, but if a formal disaster declaration isn't immediate, then it could take weeks, if not months to assess.
To listen to the interview click on the audio player above.
