DisasterLookup
EM-3119-MA · Emergency declaration

Extreme Weather Conditions and Flooding

Declared for Massachusetts on Oct 23, 1996, covering 5 designated areas. Households could apply to FEMA in 5 of them.

Oct 23, 1996declared
5areas designated
5open to household applications
$0public assistance obligated so far
Timeline

How this declaration unfolded

Incident periodOct 20, 1996 – Oct 25, 1996DeclaredOct 23, 1996Closed outFeb 4, 2002

The incident period is the official window of the disaster. Damage generally has to fall inside it to qualify for FEMA help, and FEMA sometimes extends it, or adds counties and programs, as damage assessments come in.

What an emergency declaration is

An emergency declaration is narrower and usually comes fast, often before or during an event. It mostly pays for emergency work such as evacuations, shelters and debris clearance, and federal help under one is capped at $5 million unless the President finds that more is urgently needed and reports that to Congress. Help for individual households is rare under an emergency declaration.

How declarations work →

Designated areas

Which programs each area got

IA means households could apply to FEMA. PA reimburses local governments. HM funds mitigation projects.

AreaProgramsHouseholds could apply until
Essex CountyIA declaredPA declaredHM not declaredYes
Middlesex CountyIA declaredPA declaredHM not declaredYes
Norfolk CountyIA declaredPA declaredHM not declaredYes
Plymouth CountyIA declaredPA declaredHM not declaredYes
Suffolk CountyIA declaredPA declaredHM not declaredYes