Flood aid to Massachusetts tops $50 million

By Elizabeth Ratto, Globe correspondent

Massachusetts residents and communities have received more than $50 million in disaster aid from the May floods, federal officials said today.

Nearly 11,000 households applied for assistance between May 25, when President Bush approved a federal disaster declaration, and last week, when registration for disaster assistance closed.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved more than $16.3 million to cover lodging assistance and grants for home repairs not covered by insurance, including nearly $11 million awarded to Essex County. In addition, $1.7 million was approved for personal disaster-related expenses such as medical costs and property loss.

FEMA has also approved $3.7 million for about 260 requests for assistance from local governments and nonprofits that responded to the flooding and that had public infrastructure damaged.

Also, the US Small Business Administration has approved more than $30 million in low-interest disaster loans for residents and business owners.

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