Washington (May 11, 2015) – The Massachusetts Congressional delegation today sent a letter to President Obama supporting the formal appeal request from Governor Charlie Baker to extend the FEMA designated 48-hour period of snow assistance to a 72-hour period for eligible applications. In the letter, the Massachusetts lawmakers point to the heavy toll the winter storms took on local budgets. Governor Baker estimates snow removal operations cost approximately $350 million and were the result of unprecedented and disastrous weather with record snowfall.

“The current 48-hour period approved for snow assistance is not adequate, given the excessive costs incurred by the state and municipalities in nine counties in plowing, hauling, and disposing of crippling amounts for now from the blizzard and subsequent storms,” write the Massachusetts lawmakers in the letter to President Obama. “These communities are currently struggling to manage this significant financial impact, and are being forced into a position of having to cut other critical services to make up these deficits.”

A copy of the letter can be found HERE.