Massachusetts’ pursuit of more federal aid was quashed recently after the Trump administration denied the state’s request to approve a major declaration of disaster. But state officials are still fighting to get funding for state residents who were impacted by the February blizzard.
Gov. Maura Healey announced the denial of the declaration on July 9, though other avenues for state funding remain. State officials requested it in April, following the blizzard that struck southeastern Massachusetts on February 22. The Vineyard was hit hard by the storm, which included some conservative estimates of snowfall at roughly 20 inches and caused toppled trees and downed power lines, hurricane-force winds, and days without electricity for thousands of Islanders.
Some parts of the state experienced more precipitation than the Vineyard, such as Fall River with 41 inches of snow.
“Massachusetts experienced one of the worst winter storms we’ve seen in decades,” Healey said in a statement. “Our first responders, public works crews, and local communities worked around the clock to keep people safe and begin recovery. They did their job, and now President Trump needs to do his.”
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a major disaster declaration can provide a wide range of support for states that were overwhelmed by an emergency. Whether a declaration is actually made is at the discretion of the president.
Roger Burgess, communications and digital media specialist for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), stressed the funding needed for communities across the state that were impacted in February.
“The state’s validated joint preliminary-damage assessment cost estimate for communities included in the major disaster declaration request is $44,997,506,” Burgess told The Times. “That amount represents only costs potentially eligible for federal reimbursement and is not a total statewide cost estimate.”
Healey expressed she was “deeply disappointed” by the denial from the president in early July and said Trump “should be focused on helping people — not turning his back on states that need support.” In a statement, she said, “We intend to appeal, and we’ll keep fighting to secure every federal dollar Massachusetts deserves.”
This federal denial won’t prohibit Vineyard businesses and nonprofits who suffered economic losses from applying for Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, a process that opened last month. Loan applications are open until March 12, 2027.
It is uncertain whether the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) also pursued a federal disaster declaration or assistance for the blizzard. Kevin Devine, chair of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribal Council, was not immediately available for comment.
Vineyard towns incurred hefty costs to clear roads of snow and repair damages from the blizzard. So far, town administrators who spoke with The Times noted there haven’t been reimbursements so far. Town administrators Wendy Brough of Oak Bluffs and Joseph LaCivita of Tisbury were not immediately available for comment. Jeffrey Madison, Aquinnah town administrator, said snow costs were “substantial” and said state and federal funding remained uncertain. “We hadn’t had a snowstorm like that or snow of that degree in recent years,” Madison said.
James Hagerty, Edgartown town administrator, said disaster assistance for towns is done through MEMA, so any potential federal funding would be allocated through the state agency, and they are eyeing opportunities for funding. Hagerty said Edgartown had to spend roughly $140,000 to deal with the blizzard and its aftermath.
Still, even if federal funds are less certain, Chilmark Town Administrator Tim Carroll said the state plans to send towns around $30,000, which comes from the “around $100 million to help municipalities with costs associated with the harsh winter season” that was approved by Healey last month. “They also say we can amortize any deficit over three years,” he said.
Martina Thornton, manager of Dukes County, said the county and “virtually all” towns had submitted for reimbursements. The county incurred a relatively lower cost of $12,000.
A FEMA spokesperson stated that the federal agency follows the regulations under the Stafford Act, which codifies disaster relief and emergency assistance, to determine whether a disaster is severe enough to warrant federal support. FEMA claims a more rigorous review process has been placed under the Trump administration and that the snow assistance was based on whether the weather event was “genuinely extraordinary for the region, and the East Coast is generally expected to manage major snowstorms independently.”
Disaster relief has reportedly become a slower and more difficult process for states under the Trump Administration, the New York Times reported. Massachusetts is one of four states led by Democrats to be denied federal assistance for the February snowstorms. And there’s a disparity between who gets aid. Politico reported in March that only 23 percent of disaster funding requests were approved for Democratic-led states under the Trump administration, compared with 89 percent of requests made by Republican-led states.
Abigail Jackson, White House spokeswoman, said there is “no politicization to the president’s decision on disaster relief.”
“The president responds to each request for federal assistance under the Stafford Act with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement — not substitute — their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters,” Jackson said in a statement. “The Trump administration remains committed to empowering and working with state and local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes, making response less urgent and recovery less prolonged.”
Since the blizzard, there’s been a push by Vineyard emergency managers for bolstered Island-wide coordination when emergency situations strike. One of the considerations is an Island-wide emergency coordinator.
Christine Todd, chair of the Dukes County Commissioners, who’s advocated for better communication and cooperation during disasters, highlighted that it would be beneficial for towns to be able to have a united front when requesting emergency aid from the state. “We stand a much better chance for funding,” Todd said.