Marshfield Police Department - Tropical Storm Irene

Tropical Storm Irene

Updated 10-28-2011
Disaster Declaration

UPDATE 10-14-2011

Over the past several weeks, FEMA, at the request of MEMA, has conducted Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) in Barnstable, Plymouth, Bristol, Dukes and Norfolk Counties to assess the municipal costs of (i) providing emergency protective measures during Hurricane Irene, and (ii) repairing damage from Hurricane Irene to public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, culverts, seawalls, and public buildings. PDAs were conducted in these counties because the Initial Damage Assessment Reports filed by cities and towns indicated that eligible Public Assistance costs may exceed FEMA's minimum population based cost thresholds.

In each case, the PDAs verified that eligible PA costs exceed the applicable cost thresholds. Accordingly, Governor Patrick has formally asked FEMA to include all five counties (Barnstable, Plymouth, Bristol, Dukes and Nantucket) in the Major Disaster Declaration that was issued by President Obama on September 3, 2011. If the Governor's request is approved, Public Assistance (PA) will be provided by FEMA to municipalities and certain non-profits in the five counties. Under the PA program, 75% of eligible costs will be reimbursed by FEMA.

MEMA will provide an update as soon as we receive an official response from FEMA to the Governor's request. In the meantime, please direct questions to your regional MEMA office.

Kurt Schwartz

Undersecretary, Homeland Security & Emergency Management Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

President Declares Emergency For

Massachusetts

Release Date: August 27, 2011

Release Number: HQ-11-143

» More Information on Massachusetts Hurricane Irene

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal aid has been made available to

Commonwealth of Massachusetts to supplement the commonwealth and local response efforts in

the area due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Irene beginning on August

26, 2011, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of

alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to

provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the

Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or

avert the threat of a catastrophe in the entire commonwealth.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment

and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective

measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

James N. Russo has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery

operations in the affected area.

Follow FEMA online at blog.fema.gov, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema,

andwww.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities

at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any nongovernment

websites, companies or applications.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work

together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to,

recover from, and mitigate all hazards.