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flash floods leominster

Regional bank donates $5K to flood relief

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LEOMINSTER — Rollstone Bank & Trust donated $5,000 toward the flood relief fund started by the United Way of North Central Mass., who is matching every dollar donated up to $75,000.

With many Leominster residents in need, the United Way of North Central Mass. collaborated with city officials and the Community Foundation of North Central Mass. to open the “Leominster Flood Relief Fund” to provide financial assistance and supplies to residents impacted by the flash flooding on Sept. 11.

“We are grateful for Rollstone’s generous donation to the ‘Leominster Flood Relief Fund’, to help our citizens in need,” said Kory Eng, President and CEO of the United Way of North Central Mass. “Generous donations such as this one will go a long way in helping our residents through this crisis.”

The regional United Way has coordinated with the city to launch the fund, and through a collaboration with the Community Foundation, and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation,

Donations to the Leominster Flood Relief Fund, which was launched with the help of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation as well, will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $75,000. One hundred percent of donations given to the fund will go to support residents impacted by the flooding.

“It is important that in times such as this that our communities come together to assist those in need,” said Martin Connors Jr., President and CEO Rollstone Bank & Trust. “We are honored to contribute to the city of Leominster and provide aid to the residents that have lost so much in this flood.”

To learn more about the “Leominster Flood Relief Fund” or to make a donation, please visit uwncm.org/leominster-flood-relief or text FLOODRELIEF to 50155.

Editorial: Triple-teaming Leominster’s flood recovery

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Assistance from public and private sources at the local, state and federal level continues to lift Leominster’s spirits, especially those residents directly impacted by the flood damage caused by Sept. 11’s deluge.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has answered Leominster’s call for help after flood waters ravaged parts of the city, Mayor Dean Mazzarella said on a Facebook livestream on Monday.

Leominster was declared a federal disaster area by President Joe Biden, Mazzarella said.

Monday marked one week since that storm of biblical proportions dumped 11 inches of rain on the city within a few hours, causing massive flooding and widespread damage to city, business, and residential properties, roadways, and the commuter rail line.

“Now we kick into that process,” he said. “We’re getting familiar with that process, but right now the best thing that we could do is if you’ve sustained any kind of damage, is to fill out one of these forms that I’ll show you.”

Provided through the city website and the city’s Facebook page, the mayor advised that filling out FEMA forms doesn’t guarantee funding, but it does provide a way to reach everyone that has sustained flood damage.

Gov. Maura Healey had declared a state of emergency on Sept. 12, hours after she announced that she would ask for federal support.

Mazzarella had previously stated that it would cost from $25 million to $45 million to repair infrastructure damage caused by the extensive flooding, but that didn’t include the loss of personal property.

The FEMA disaster declaration allows residents and the municipality to seek federal aid to help rehab or replace items impacted by the estimated 11 inches of rain.

According to its website, FEMA provides two main types of assistance, individual and public, in the wake of major disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding.

FEMA provides individual assistance to eligible individuals and households that have sustained losses that prompted a federal disaster declaration.

Homeowners and renters in officially designated counties who sustained damage to their homes, vehicles, personal property, businesses or inventory may apply for disaster assistance.

Assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, medical, dental and funeral expenses caused by the disaster, together with other serious disaster-related expenses.

Disaster assistance grants aren’t taxable income, nor will they affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, medical waiver programs, welfare assistance, temporary assistance for needy families, food stamps, supplemental security Income, Social Security disability insurance or any other federal benefits.

As a FEMA partner, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, nonprofits, homeowners and renters, independent of benefits obtained from other agencies or organizations.

Public assistance can fund the repair, restoration, reconstruction or replacement of eligible public or certain nonprofit facilities or infrastructure damaged or destroyed by a disaster.

FEMA will provide a reimbursement grant of at least 75% of eligible costs, with the state and local governments sharing the remaining 25%.

However, residents must fill out those FEMA forms to be eligible for this generous federal assistance.

“A lot of people lost everything. Not only did people lose things that are important to them, they lost space,” Mazzarella said in reference to flooded finished basements.

The mayor also mentioned that “some people may qualify for a Community Development Block Grant,” and that the city will be setting up an event to provide information on relief resources available.

And some of that assistance also emanates from a regional agency well known for its compassion and generosity.

Through its economic-development arm, the North Central Mass. Chamber of Commerce announced Friday that it will provide emergency loans to mitigate flood damage incurred by businesses in Leominster and other local communities.

The North Central Mass. Development Corp.’s North Central Emergency Relief Loan program will provide up to $10,000 with a 1% interest rate and all fees waived for eligible businesses, and offers an expedited approval process with a quick closing.

Loans are available for up to six months of interest-only or deferred payments, then up to a 36-month repayment term with no pre-payment penalty.

Businesses meeting the loan program criteria can expect to receive funding within two weeks of a completed application.

To be eligible for the North Central Emergency Relief Loan program, businesses must have been in operation at the time of the disaster, with funding utilized for losses caused by the flooding in North Central Massachusetts and for flood remediation expenses.

“Should businesses incur expenses above and beyond this loan, we can work with them using our traditional loan programs and full underwriting practices,” said Roy Nascimento, president and CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber and North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation.

As Mayor Mazzarella previously stated, there are no quick fixes for a disaster of this scale, but with local, state and federal support, the recovery timeline can be accelerated.

City ‘expects’ maternity ward to stay open as flood recovery is ongoing

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LEOMINSTER — As residents and work crews are still in the process of recovering from last week’s flood, the city sent a letter to UMass Memorial Health saying it expects the maternity ward at Leominster Hospital to stay open during a time when so many resources have been diverted.

However, a statement from UMass Memorial Health said the Sept. 23 closure date for the maternity ward has not changed.

“We understand concerns expressed about the timing of the closure of HealthAlliance-Clinton’s inpatient maternity unit in relation to the ongoing challenges facing the community,” said a statement from UMass Memorial Health provided by spokesperson Shelly Hazlett.

The health care company said they have offered to support the flood relief in a variety of ways, including a charitable donation of $20,000 to one flood relief fund, and, considering the condition of roadways and city infrastructure, will make any adjustments needed.

“We extend our support to our community members impacted by the flooding in Leominster last week and recognize the importance of helping each other in times of disaster,” said the statement from UMass Memorial Health. “We have been…offering our assistance [to the city] and continue to work with clinicians across our system to provide urgent and emergency health services to those seeking care. We also remain on-call to support ongoing rescue and evacuation efforts, as needed.”

Earlier in the day Mayor Dean Mazzarella sent a letter on behalf of the city departments and his “many constituents” to say that there is an expectation that the hospital would keep the maternity ward open while the flood recovery and damage repairs continue.

“All city departments are working 24/7 to address the needs of the people of Leominster. On behalf of my constituents and city departments, I expect that you won’t close the maternity ward during this time,” said Mazzarella in the statement. “Currently we have streets closed with substantial damage. We have over 500 residents that reported damage to homes since we asked just two days ago. That number will continue to climb.”

While UMass Memorial Health said the closing date won’t change, they’ve taken extra measures to ensure that maternity patients continue to have access to services.

“Following the closure, the UMass Memorial Health system will continue supporting the residents of Leominster and making health resources available to the community. HealthAlliance-Clinton has also taken additional steps to ensure North Central patients are fully supported,” the statement from UMass Memorial Health said. “We have ensured sufficient UMass Memorial Medical Center staff and physical capacity to accept all deliveries that currently occur at HA-C along with other program enhancements.”

The letter from Mazzarella addresses other issues still to be handled, such as the loss of one emergency vehicle.

“Electrical panels were submerged in many apartment buildings and those people are currently in our hotels. Our commuter rail is under repair. We lost one ambulance to the flooding” Mazzarella said.

UMass Memorial Health said that they have notified the state that the maternity ward closure plan remains the same and that the closure date has not been changed.

“In adherence with the DPH’s regulatory review process for the closure of essential services, we will be closing the unit as planned on Sept. 23. DPH is aware of this and will shift its focus to monitoring and enforcement of our plan,” said the statement. “UMass Memorial Health donated $20,000 to the city’s United Way Leominster fund to help address weather-related damage in the community.”

Mazzarella said the city is hoping the federal government will be able to assist with the flood relief.

“We are currently under a local and state declaration of state of emergency and are working toward a federal disaster declaration by the Biden Administration,” Mazzarella said in the letter.

Blue Devils miss out on golden opportunity

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WORCESTER — If one thing has become clear in the early stages of the season, it’s that nothing will come easy for the Leominster High football team this fall.

Coming off a loss in their season opener and that contest being delayed a full day due to thunderstorms, the Blue Devils were forced to the sidelines for multiple days this week, kept off the field and denied practice time as the city recovered from flooding Monday that caused the closure of schools and cancelations of athletic endeavors.

And when it came time to play at Doherty Memorial Friday evening, the Blue Devils were again dealt a delay, as transportation issues forced kickoff to be moved back 40 minutes.

Just getting out on the turf for a game against Doherty on Friday night may have felt like a little victory for the Blue Devils. Boarding the buses home with an actual win would have been something extra.

But the tough times continued for the Blue Devils, who came up on the losing end of a 28-27 contest at Foley Stadium to fall to 0-2 on the season.

Leominster held a 27-21 lead in the fourth quarter, but struggled to stop the Highlanders, who took the lead for good with 8:11 to go. Doherty capped a nine-play, 58-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone by Malachi Burke and the point after gave the hosts a 28-27 advantage.

 

City advises on flood cleanup, offers help

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LEOMINSTER — During one of his regular flood updates, Mayor Dean Mazzarella said that residents struggling to repair and clean flood-damaged properties should be aware of a few things that could make the process much easier. From advice, to cleaning crews, to dumping areas, the city wants residents to know that help is being made available to them.

First off, during natural disasters like this flood, not all people are looking to help and Mazzarella wants to remind residents to be very wary of anybody approaching them to offer cleaning services.

“For a lot of companies, this is a chance to take advantage of people. Be careful of who you get yourself involved with,” said Mazzarella. “Be careful with those kinds of things.”

He said, there are those that specifically go out to natural disaster areas in order to scam vulnerable people, and he wants to remind residents that the scams can come in many forms, so flood-ravaged neighborhoods just need to be vigilant.

The state has offered a hotline that residents can call for assistance in flood cleanup called Crisis Cleanup. The hotline is (978) 219-6107.

“If you need assistance with damage from the flooding in Massachusetts, call the number above to ask for help. We will connect you with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and faith communities who may be able to assist,” said a release from Crisis Cleanup.

Crisis Cleanup will assist with cutting fallen trees, removal of drywall, removal of flooring and appliances, tarping roofs and mold mitigation. All services are free but, due to the overwhelming need, services can’t be guaranteed.

Fortunately, before long, Mazzarella said the city will actually be sending people out to help clean Leominster neighborhoods.

“From what I understand, starting next week, we have a group that comes in that will help people clean up [at their homes],” Mazzarella said Wednesday evening. “We’re trying to help in as many ways as possible.”

In the meantime, the city has organized a flood disposal collection this weekend at Doyle Field. This Saturday, Sept 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17, the city will be holding a storm debris collection at Doyle Field, 160 Priest St., Leominster. The collection will be held, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The collection is for storm debris only and residents can bring damaged flooring, ceiling tiles, sheetrock, drywall and boxes filled with paper (photos, magazines, etc.). The collection will not accept electronics, appliances, mattresses, tires, propane tanks, furniture, or yard waste.

Residents are still allowed to dispose of one bulk item per week but, as the situation progresses, the city is telling residents to call the Leominster Health Department directly at (978) 962-3558 for updated disposal allowances.

For those that rent, the city is providing a service to advise tenants on who is responsible regarding property damage during a natural disaster.

For questions related to tenant/landlord storm related responsibilities, reach out to Community Legal Aid, which has a fully-staffed office located in Fitchburg. Apply for services online at communitylegal.org/get-help or call at (978) 516-5155 during intake hours; Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and Wednesdays from 1:30-4:15 p.m.

Charitable flood relief efforts for residents begin

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LEOMINSTER — As flooding response and repair to city infrastructure continues, local organizations have already sprung into action for the city residents whose lives were aggressively halted by the flood and want to help them get back to normal.

The United Way of North Central Massachusetts has created a relief fund to support the residents in the city in a variety of ways and Ginny’s Helping Hand will be taking donations at their Mechanic Street location in the city.

“In the face of the recent historic floods in Leominster, Ginny’s Helping Hand is actively engaged in aiding our community’s swift recovery. We invite you to be a part of this vital effort. Starting today, we are gratefully accepting donations of essential items such as food, personal care products, and clothing at 52 Mechanic St., Leominster,” said a statement from Brandon Robbins, Ginny’s Helping Hand executive director. “Your contributions will directly benefit those affected by the floods, making a significant impact on their lives. If you prefer to provide monetary support, you can easily do so on our website by clicking the ‘donate’ button,”

They will also accept monetary donations by mail, send to: Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc., 52 Mechanic Street, Leominster, MA 01453

“Every dollar counts in helping us provide a hand up to our friends and neighbors during this challenging time. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all those who have already reached out to support us in assisting our community,” said Robbins in the statement. “Together, we are #TeamGinnys, standing strong for our city and region.Thank you for your generosity and compassion.”

United Way of North Central Mass. created a relief fund to accept donations and will be matching every single dollar donated to directly assist the residents affected by the floods.

“With the support of Leominster City officials and in collaboration with the Community Foundation of North Central Mass., United Way of North Central Mass. has opened the ‘Leominster Flood Relief Fund,'” a statement read. “Your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000! Donate now and help us reach our goal of $100,000 to help the residents facing this crisis. We can Live United”

To donate, Text FLOODRELIEF to 50155 or visit uwncm.org/leominster-flood-relief.