Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella revealed that the city suffered an estimated $30 million in damages after a series of storms brought relentless rainfall, resulting in nearly 10 inches of rain within just four hours on September 11, 2023.

Mayor Mazzarella expressed his deep disappointment, emphasizing that Leominster has always been committed to maintaining its infrastructure and described the destruction caused by the 1,000-year storm as heart-wrenching. The floodwaters damaged recently constructed sidewalks, roads that had just been paved and striped, and even a culvert that had been recently replaced. To make matters worse, the city had already spent $2 million from its own coffers on temporary repairs to quickly reopen the affected areas.

Last winter, the Healey/Driscoll Administration submitted a disaster declaration requesting both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance from FEMA. However, in February, FEMA denied both parts of the application. Undeterred, Leominster officials collaborated with the administration to appeal the decision. Earlier this month, the Individual Assistance part of the request was finally approved, offering some relief to the affected residents. Unfortunately, the review of the Public Assistance portion remained pending until Tuesday when it was ultimately denied.

In a letter addressed to the governor, FEMA Associate Administrator Keith Turi explained that, after a thorough review of the initial request and subsequent appeal, the agency reaffirmed its previous determination that the infrastructure damage inflicted by the flooding did not meet the required severity and magnitude necessary to qualify for Public Assistance under FEMA-4780-DR.

As the city grapples with the denial of federal funding, two federal disaster recovery centers have been established to assist residents affected by the floods. One center is located at Bristol Community College in Attleboro, while the other opened on Wednesday at Leominster City Hall. Disaster assistance specialists will be available at these centers to help residents apply for FEMA Individual Assistance, provide guidance on uploading required documents, and address any questions or concerns.

These centers will also offer the presence of FEMA specialists and representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which can offer low-interest disaster loans, to discuss the available assistance options. It is important to note that those affected by the disaster are not required to visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in order to apply. They can register for assistance online via the DisasterAssistance.gov website, by phone at 800-621-3362 (selecting the appropriate language option), or by utilizing FEMA's Mobile App.

Leominster now faces the immense challenge of finding alternative means to fund the repair and restoration of the public property damaged during the unprecedented flooding event. The city's determination to regain its infrastructure's functionality and resilience remains steadfast, as it seeks innovative solutions to rebuild and recover from the devastating impact of the recent natural disaster.