August 2023 Weather Event

Update on Request for Federal Aid from MEMA Director – September 22, 2023

Last Friday, the Director of MEMA, Dawn Brantley, sent an email to communities impacted by flooding on August 8^th. In this communication, the Director outlines in detail the criteria for Federal aid and why some communities – to include Needham and Norfolk County – did not qualify.

We have attached the Director’s message here should you wish to read it in its entirety.

Update on Request for Federal Aid – September 12, 2023

The Town was notified today that Norfolk County, which includes Needham, did not meet the threshold for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is managed locally through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), to provide financial assistance to businesses and residents which sustained damage to their properties from the August 8, 2023 flooding. The Town was also notified that it did not meet the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) criteria for low interest loans to businesses and residents impacted by this weather event.

The criteria for the SBA loan program, as set forth in 13 CFR; § 123.3 (2)(i), states “In any county or other smaller political subdivision of a State or U.S. possession, at least 25 homes or 25 businesses, or combination of at least 25 homes, businesses, or other eligible institutions, each sustain uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of the estimated fair replacement value or pre-disaster fair market value of the damaged property.

At this time, the Town has exhausted all avenues for federal and state disaster aid to assist Needham property owners whose properties were damaged from the floods.

Follow-up Neighborhood Meetings - Updated September 12, 2023

The Department of Public Works, the Building Department, and the Select Board are evaluating the issues that were reported during the August 8th event and are working to schedule neighborhood meetings at which staff will meet on site with those impacted to discuss potential future mitigation strategies on both public and private property.

Background Information

On August 8th, 2023, the Town of Needham received an extraordinary amount of rain in a short period of time that led to localized flooding in certain parts of town.

Town Declaration of Emergency

The Town of Needham has declared a state of emergency effective August 8th, 2023.

The intent of this declaration is to expedite the Town’s emergency response and facilitate the deployment of any available State, Federal, and private sector resources to help recover, repair and/or replace lost or damaged property.

Declaration of Emergency - PDF

Submit Information About Your Damaged Property

Thank you to those who submitted information to the Town about your damaged property. This information has been consolidated and submitted to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) for review before MEMA sends a request for aid on behalf of the Town to the Federal government.

MEMA Crisis Cleanup Hotline

MEMA has activated the Crisis Cleanup Hotline for these storms, which can connect homeowners with volunteer cleanup organizations. Services are free, but not guaranteed. It is anticipated that most volunteer groups will work through August 25, 2023. Impacted residents needing assistance with fallen trees, mold mitigation, tarping roofs, or flooring, drywall and appliance removal can call 617-207-5633.