I meant the fed aid, not the flood, folks.
"Flooding was state’s costliest disaster; 24,000 residents share $35 million in federal aid" by David Abel, Globe Staff | April 24, 2010
State residents have already received more than $35 million in federal aid for damage caused by last month’s floods, making the record rains the most expensive natural disaster ever to hit individuals and businesses in Massachusetts, state and federal officials said yesterday....
Victor Inge, a spokesman for Federal Emergency Management Agency, said “This is far from over,’’ adding that anyone affected by the floods can apply for aid, including those with insurance and those with high-paying jobs. “But people have to remember that this is disaster assistance; it’s not designed to make them whole. It’s designed to make their homes safe, sanitary, and habitable.’’
Yeah, that kind of assistance is only available to banks.
State and local governments will also probably receive tens of millions of dollars in additional aid after President Obama’s announcement this week that Massachusetts is eligible to receive disaster assistance for damaged roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.
Where is all this money coming from, and how many billions in interest will we be paying on it?
The state estimates that the flooding from last month’s record rainfall will cost municipalities and the state at least $38 million for security and public infrastructure repairs. The additional federal aid allows local governments, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations to be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of the costs to repair public facilities and infrastructure, as well as for flood-related overtime costs for first responders....
“Municipal and state budgets are facing tough times as it is, and this federal relief is critical to stabilizing finances and helping our cities and towns recover from these devastating storms,’’ Governor Deval Patrick said in a statement.
The storms last month set a record for the wettest March in Boston after dropping nearly 15 inches of rain on the city, surpassing the 11 inches of rain that fell in March 1953. The Blue Hill Observatory set a record for the wettest month ever recorded, with 18.81 inches of rainfall, narrowly beating the previous record of 18.78 inches in August 1955.
The frequency of the heavy storms, three within a three-week period, and their timing were unprecedented in the last 100 years of weather history and prompted Obama to declare much of the region a national disaster area....
It was even before the storms.
And one town that has quietly been destroyed:
"Business recedes with waters; Closed bridges cut Assonet village off from lucrative traffic" by Jeannie Nuss, Globe Correspondent | April 25, 2010
FREETOWN — Grandpa’s Place, a mom-and-pop convenience shop, dried up its gas pumps and fired seven workers. A local pizza joint once bustling with takeout orders has seen a steady decline in customers calling for its Portuguese burgers and pepperoni pies.
The flood waters that inundated Assonet, a once-vibrant neighborhood of this Southeastern Massachusetts town, have receded somewhat since the monsoons of March. But the residual effects of all that rain have forced the closing of bridges and the ebbing of business.
Much of the movement in this downtown-turned-ghost town seems to be underwater. Scores of herring have backed up by the Narrows Road Bridge, where the rocks and gravel that workers used to repair the span after the flood have blocked their spawning site upstream.....
Not a rare occurrence around here: Casper's Hometown
The backup is particularly disturbing to locals and state officials alike, because the gray-bellied fish are considered a “species of concern,’’ a step below endangered status.
Residents say that it is a twisted symbiotic relationship: the makeshift bridge is stonewalling fish by Narrows Road, but a mile and a half away, the herring are halting progress on repairing the Elm Street Bridge....
The Elm Street Bridge is closed to automobile traffic, which is making things tough for businesses....
For some reason the citizen always comes last here in AmeriKa -- after I was told my whole life we are first.
That's been about it from the Globe lately, folks. If I find anything else floating in the water I'll let you know.
