FEMA: President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Massachusetts

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:

FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to supplement the commonwealth, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on Jan. 20, 2020, and continuing.

The President's action makes federal funding available for Crisis Counseling for affected individuals in all areas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Federal funding is also available to the commonwealth, eligible tribal and local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct federal assistance under Public Assistance, for all areas affected by COVID-19 at a federal cost share of 75 percent.

W. Russell Webster has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further assessments.