WAKEFIELD — Several areas in Massachusetts were impacted by recent weather events that caused damage to personal and business property throughout the state. Specifically, severe storms and flooding that occurred from September 11 to 13, 2023, and severe storms and flooding that occurred on August 8, 2023. An administrative declaration of disaster was recently issued for that August event. If you incurred damage from either of these storms, assistance may be available to you.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is initiating an effort to determine whether the Commonwealth and any of its counties may be eligible to receive federal disaster assistance as a result of the September 11-13 storm. As part of their initial damage assessment, MEMA requests that residents and business owners report damage via their online form. For assistance with the form, to submit by phone, or for access in multiple languages, residents and businesses can call Mass 2-1-1 (x 20). The online form will be available through Friday, September 29, 2023. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact MEMA’s Disaster Recovery Unit at Disaster.Recovery@mass.gov.
An administrative declaration of disaster was issued for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the severe storms and flooding that occurred on August 8, 2023. All residents and businesses that were affected in the Counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex may be eligible for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to help them recover from the flooding event. These SBA loans are for both businesses and residents.
- Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
- Home Disaster Loans: Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.
Residents may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications on the SBA site. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
In addition, applicants may apply in person at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs):
North Andover Town Hall, 120 Main St., North Andover, MA 01845
- Monday September 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday-Friday September 26-29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday September 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lawrence Senior Center, 155 Haverhill St., Lawrence, MA 01840
• Monday October 2, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday-Friday October 3-6, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday October 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.