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Patrick asks president for flood disaster declaration

E-mail|Link|Comments () March 25, 2010 06:46 PM

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick has written President Obama to ask him to declare a disaster in Massachusetts so federal funds can flow to residents and businesses impacted by the recent torrential downpours and flooding.

Patrick's office said hundreds of homes suffered major, uninsured damage to living spaces; more than 1,000 suffered minor damage but still a significant loss; many nursing homes and special needs facilities had to be evacuated; and it was still unclear whether many homes were fit to live in.

"I am hopeful that our request to the President for a disaster declaration will be granted and will help us bring us one step closer to securing the assistance people need to rebuild," Patrick said in a statement.

Peter Judge, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, said a disaster declaration could open a variety of programs to both residents and businesses. Residents, for example, could benefit from federal grants to make home repairs or replace heating or electrical systems. They could also get crisis counseling and help in paying for housing, if they've been displaced from their homes. Residents and businesses could take advantage of low-interest loans to get back on their feet.

The disaster programs would be available to people in Essex, Middlesex, Worcester, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth counties.

Rain fell heavily from March 13 through March 15. Some areas were drenched with as much as 10 inches.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts residents face a new weather challenge going into this weekend. Not rain this time, but a brief cold plunge back into winter.

The National Weather Service says the temperature will drop to the upper 30s tonight and rain is predicted. On Friday, it will be cloudy and rainy with highs remaining in the upper 30s.

Going out Friday night? Better brace yourself and find the winter coat and the hat. The weather is expected to clear and the mercury is expected to drop to the low 20s, while winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour will make it feel as if it were as low as 11 degrees. In some areas of eastern Massachusetts, the temperature is expected to plummet to the upper teens.

On Saturday, the high in Boston is expected to be in the upper 30s once again. The weather is expected to warm up again Sunday, with highs reaching the upper 40s.