By Paul Tuthill
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Springfield, MA – Today is the last day people impacted by the June 1st tornadoes in Massachusetts can apply for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Two months after a federal disaster declaration was issued for the tornadoes, FEMA's role is transitioning as the region enters a rebuilding phase that will last years. WAMC"s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
More than 4 thousand seven hundred people registered with FEMA for disaster assistance and four million dollars has been given to tornado survivors. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than 7 and a half million dollars in low interest loans for the disaster recovery effort.
FEMA has closed the 9 disaster recovery centers it opened in mid June in Massachusetts and after today it will no longer accept new applications for help over the telephone and internet, according to FEMA spokesman Alberto Pilot.
Pilot says FEMA will process pending applications for assistance and will likely distribute additional aid to individuals and businesses for damage and losses not covered by private insurance. Also he says FEMA is forming what are called " Long Term Recovery Groups" that will assist people in finding help from non-government sources.
The tornadoes caused damage in 19 cities and towns and claimed three lives. FEMA's response to the disaster in Massachusetts has been widely praised. Here's Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray.
Peter Judge, the chief information officer for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency says municipal officials have requested money from FEMA to pay for damage to public property, for overtime for emergency responders, and for debris removal..
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says the city will be seeking to get 75 percent of its tornado related emergency expenses reimbursed by FEMA.
Sarno has written to FEMA officials in Washington asking the agency to partially reimburse private property owners for the expense of removing tree and tornado debris their private insurance won't cover. He has yet to receive a response.
Sarno said the so-called vegetative debris that still sits on private property because the owners can't afford to have it hauled away, is a threat to public health and safety.
Officials in other communities impacted by the tornado, including Wilbraham, Monson and Brimfield, say they have also grappled with the issue of removing vegetative debris. In many cases private insurance won't pay to remove a downed tree unless the tree fell on an insured building.
Private insurers have paid out more than 175 million dollars for tornado damage according to the Massachusetts Division of Insurance.