FEMA To Begin Attleboro Flood Damage Assessments

ATTLEBORO — Attleboro Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Scott T. Lachance announced today that representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will soon begin collecting information on damage sustained by Attleboro residents during the severe rain event that occurred Sept. 11, 2023.

FEMA last month approved the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ request for a disaster declaration in Bristol County based on the amount of damage incurred after several inches of rain fell in just a few hours, causing severe flash flooding. 

The current disaster declaration is for Individual Disaster Assistance (IDA), which gives individuals and households the opportunity to receive funding for damage from the Sept. 11 storm. The funding can be used for temporary housing, to help repair or replace a damaged residence, make other improvements to prevent damage from future storms, or other approved purposes.

In order to facilitate this assessment process, FEMA is using three separate public outreach approaches:

• A FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) team assigned to Attleboro will begin door-to-door canvasing focusing initially on the areas that experienced the most flooding. They will be going around between 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., seven days a week during the assessment period. DSA team members will be wearing shorts with the FEMA logo, as well as vests, and carry federal government identifications. 
• The DSA team will also work with community organizations, schools, churches, parks, community events, etc., to distribute pamphlets with information for the community. Representatives are expected at the upcoming Memorial Day Parade as well.
• The DSA team will also be available at a temporary regional facility located at Bristol Community College starting Tuesday, May 28. 

“It’s important that Attleboro residents talk to the DSA team and provide as much documentation as they can about damages sustained during the storm,” Chief Lachance said. 

 Although the IDA program is only available for homeowners, business owners who experienced damage may be eligible for special loans, and should speak to FEMA employees at their Bristol Community College office, Lachance said.  

If residents have any questions about the process, or want to confirm that they have spoken with DSA team members, they can contact Chief Lachance via email at chieflachance@cityofattleboro.us, or by phone at 774-203-1997.

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