Gov. Deval Patrick said, "It will take time to rebuild, but we will rebuild. Make no mistake about that." Watch video
06/16/11 Springfield- Republican Photo by Mark M.Murray - Kurt Schwartz, Director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency ,left answers a question as Governor Deval Patrick, right listens during a press conference thursday about the recent federal disaster aid announcement for communities hit by the June 1st tornado. SPRINGFIELD – Federal officials plan to open nine disaster assistance centers as soon as Saturday in communities impacted by the June 1 tornadoes to help residents and business owners who suffered losses get on the path to restoration and recovery.
The disaster recovery centers in Hampden and Worcester counties will be set up primarily to provide aid and information to victims, officials said.
Local, state and federal officials including Gov. Deval L. Patrick and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, gathered at Court Square on Thursday, to announce further details of the disaster aid and to praise the speed of the federal disaster declaration by President Barack Obama.
“It will take time to rebuild, but we will rebuild. Make no mistake about that,” Patrick said.
Meanwhile, the state Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bill that would spend $15 million to cover the state costs associated with tornado damage and cleanup.
State Sen. Stephen Brewer, D-Barre, who represents Monson and Brimfield, two of the communities hit by the tornado, said the money will pay for the emergency-response costs for such agencies as the National Guard, Massachusetts Emergency Response Agency, and the state police.
06/16/11 Springfield- Republican Photo by Mark M.Murray - Governor Deval Patrick, right checks out the mortarboard made out of paper being worn by Christopher Lisojo 11, a 5th grader at the Brookings School. Chrisopher had just come from the 5th grade graduation ceremony at the school that was hit by the June 1 tornado. His family was also displaced by the tornado when their home was damaged. The Governor was in Court Square for a press conference about the recent federal disaster aid announcement. “The physical, emotional and financial toll of these storms is colossal,” Brewer said.
The total cost of the damage so far in terms of the 8,200 claims filed with insurance companies has reached $140 million and could go higher, a state official said.
Joseph G. Murphy, Massachusetts commissioner of insurance, said both the number of claims and total damage have increased by 50 percent from the division’s first tally on Tuesday. At that time, there were about 5,000 claims totaling $90 million.
“As people affected by the tornadoes continue to clean up and move forward toward filing claims and having repairs done, we expect these numbers to grow,” said Murphy.
Of the total claims so far, 4,200 are for damage to housing at an estimated $120 million. Another 200 claims totaling $5 million have been filed for commercial properties.
There are also 3,200 claims totaling $15 million for automobiles.
Based on those numbers, the average amount per damage claim is $28,571 per house, $25,000 per business, and $4,687 per automobile.
The division maintains a hotline for people with questions about filing claims for storm damage. The number is (413) 521-7777. People can also go to the website at www.mass.gov/stormrecovery.
With the federal declaration of a disaster area announced on Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is coordinating a federal response to the cleanup.
The first two of the nine disaster centers are expected to open Saturday in Springfield and West Springfield, and additional centers will open on Sunday, said Kurt Schwartz, director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
The specific locations will be publicized once they are ready to open, officials said.
However, West Springfield Mayor Edward J. Gibson disclosed later that FEMA is in the process of establishing a disaster recovery center on the third floor of the municipal office building.
It could open as soon as Saturday and is expected to remain there for six weeks, he said.
In Springfield, officials said there is no set cap on the amount of disaster aid and low-interest loans that will be forthcoming to the hardest hit communities, and to the damaged and destroyed homes, businesses and infrastructure.
“Nobody said when the tornado hit, there was too much government,” Neal said. “The government responded.”
FEMA will be immediately mobilizing federal inspectors for an estimated 3,000 inspections of damaged properties in the region, Schwartz said.
Neal and Schwartz stressed that people can start getting information and registering for federal aid now. There are individual-assistance programs for eligible homeowners, tenants and businesses, and public-assistance programs for municipalities.
The phone number to register is (800) 621-FEMA, or (800) 621-3362. The TTY line number for the hearing impaired is (800) 462-7585.
Victims can also register online with FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Since the tornado, the state has operated two assistance centers, one at the Department of Transitional Assistance, 95 Liberty St., Springfield, and the other at the Department of Development Service Center, 171 State Ave., Monson.
Patrick said once the FEMA centers are operating, the state centers will be blended in with them to prevent duplication of services.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said that with the federal declaration in place, the city has begun to emerge from the path of destruction and havoc caused by the tornado.
“We are firmly in the stabilization phase,” Sarno said.
The rebuilding phase, he said, is for now still “around the corner.”
Patrick, joined by Neal and Sarno, arrived at the outdoor press conference at Court Square in the early afternoon, receiving applause from the gathered crowd.
Patrick said the state “owes a tremendous debt of gratitude” to the president, FEMA, Homeland Security and others.
Patrick also praised the “spirit of neighborliness” that has followed the tornadoes. Individuals and agencies have provided comfort, shelter, clothing and encouragement, he said.
Once a building is inspected and a person or family is deemed eligible for disaster aid, they should receive a check or notification of a deposit to their bank accounts within about 10 days of the inspector’s visit, according to FEMA.
The Senate vote on Beacon Hill comes one day after the House voted overwhelmingly to approve the same bill.
Brewer, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, said the state relief is essential right now.
“The communities affected by this disaster are looking at a long, arduous road to recovery, and this funding will provide some relief,” he said.
Senators from other communities hurt by the tornadoes, including Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham, James T. Welch, D-West Springfield and Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, also spoke in support of the bill.
Also in Springfield news, the city School Committee voted unanimously Thursday to lease 30 portable trailers for use as classrooms at two tornado-damaged elementary schools, Elias Brookings and Mary A. Dryden, when classes resume in the fall.
The lease is expected to cost about $7 million.
The portable classrooms are likely to be used at Brookings for two years while the school is rebuilt, officials said. The estimates for Dryden have the trailers in use for only one year while one wing is rebuilt.
The School Department will seek federal disaster aid to reimburse its lease costs.