LEOMINSTER — The City of Leominster is appealing President Biden’s decision not to sign a disaster declaration for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding on behalf of the city and the other communities damaged by the flooding in September.
In a letter announcing the president’s decision, Mayor Dean Mazzarella said that Governor Maura Healey and her team submitted the city’s request in December after city officials worked for three months with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to comply with every request from FEMA.
“Whether it was additional information on individual homes, businesses, or city damage, we worked night and day to get every piece of information they requested to them by each deadline that was set,” Mazzarella said. “When FEMA requested information we weren’t able to quantify ourselves, we hired three engineering firms to provide the data needed. In the end, we submitted information totaling $435 million in city damage and forms for 1,400 homes and businesses that were affected by the flooding. Yet, President Biden and FEMA opted not to approve the declaration.”
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In a letter to Governor Healey announcing the president’s decision to shoot down the funding requests, Deanne Criswell, an administrator for FEMA wrote:
“Based on our review of all the information available, it has been determined that the damage from this event was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, affected local governments, and voluntary agencies. Accordingly, we have determined that supplemental federal assistance is not necessary. Therefore, I must inform you that your request for a major disaster declaration is denied.”
Mazzarella said that the City of Leominster and other communities affected by the flooding will continue to fight for the FEMA funding.
“We are not done,” Mazzarella said. “Leominster has never backed down from a challenge and this is no exception. We have hired a consultant to assist us with the appeal and the Governor personally assured me last night that her team is in this fight with us.”
The city has 30 days (from Feb. 11, 2024 – the date of FEMA’s denial letter) to appeal the president’s decision.
