Romney says word on flood aid coming soon
Another fatality confirmed in Mass.
After spending the weekend touring storm-ravaged cities and towns with federal disaster officials, Governor Mitt Romney said Massachusetts residents could learn as soon as this week whether they will receive federal aid to repair their flooded homes and businesses.
State officials estimate that more than 14,000 homes were flooded or otherwise damaged by this month's record rainfall. The inspections of some of the damaged areas capped a week during which Romney lobbied both President Bush and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to speed up the disaster aid process.
Given the scope of the damage, ''we expect that . . . FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] support is merited," Romney said at a press conference yesterday, before more stormy weather toppled trees and cut power in various areas.
Caroline Allen, a spokeswoman for
If FEMA and Congress grant the disaster declaration wrought by last week's rains, Romney said, property owners would be eligible for as much as $27,000 each toward essential repairs on their homes.
Romney said he hoped a decision could come as early as today, but a FEMA spokesman was less definite, saying it was unclear when officials would decide if Massachusetts residents will be eligible for federal assistance.
Also yesterday, the body of a 56-year-old man was recovered from the swollen Ipswich River in Topsfield, police said, not far from where his submerged vehicle had been found Thursday on a flooded road.
Melvin W. Hughes was found 200 yards off Rowley Bridge Road under some surface debris in 6 feet of water, police said.
FEMA gathered information from 24 communities over the weekend to assess how many homes were affected, said Marty Bahamonde, a spokesman for the agency.
FEMA was compiling that data, but it was too soon yesterday to gauge the scope of the damage, he said in a telephone interview.
Bahamonde said the agency will begin examining the damage to infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, tomorrow. Romney said he hoped to file a request for federal aid to municipalities for infrastructure repairs by the end of the week.
Peter Judge, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, said state officials hoped the federal government would offer help ''as soon as possible."
He also pointed out that a variety of factors could complicate the process.
''You have New Hampshire and Maine that are in the middle of this as well," he said.
Hughes, of Topsfield, had been reported missing Tuesday by co-workers at a Lynn post office.
His body was recovered at 11:50 a.m. after four days of searching, police said. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
Hughes's death was the second in the state attributed to the flooding.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. 
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.
