LEOMINSTER — Gov. Maura Healey filed a request on Monday, the three-months anniversary of the Sept. 11 flood, asking President Joe Biden to make a disaster declaration to assist the local community in rebuilding.
The office of Mayor Dean Mazzarella said the declaration that Healey requested from the president would provide funding not just for the dozens of damaged sites owned by the city but the significant damage to businesses, property owners and residents.
“Governor Healey filed a request for a disaster declaration [on Dec. 11] for consideration by President Biden. The declaration includes a request for both individual assistance (homeowners/businesses) as well as city infrastructure damage,” said the release from the mayor’s office.
City officials said that the process to collect and organize the many damage forms submitted was long but they have finally reached the end. Some general damage figures include:
• Leominster residents or businesses have submitted a combined 1,400 damage forms to MEMA or FEMA.
• The city of Leominster has submitted 75 damaged city sites to MEMA/FEMA, totaling over $30 million by our engineer estimates and that of 3 engineering firms who assisted in estimates
• On the state side, MassDOT has $6 million in estimated costs on behalf of Leominster.
• The MBTA has $390,000.00 for repairs to the commuter rail.
“We are hopeful that the President will decide quickly on approval of the declaration,” said the release from the mayor’s office.
The Sept. 11, 2023 storm in Leominster caused significant damage throughout the entire city, affecting utilities, roadways, businesses and residents. Multiple sinkholes and miles of water-damaged pavement made many roads impassable throughout the city for days and officials on all levels of government worked for weeks with residents and other property owners to repair damage.
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