By Tiffany Williams –
BOSTON, Mass. — Governor Maura Healey is urging the Trump Administration to reverse its denial of Massachusetts’ request for a Major Disaster Declaration, arguing that communities across eastern Massachusetts should not be left to bear the financial burden of recovering from one of the worst winter storms the state has experienced in decades.
The request stems from the February 22-23, 2026 blizzard, which brought whiteout conditions, snowfall rates of up to four inches per hour and hurricane-force wind gusts that overwhelmed local resources, knocked out power to nearly 300,000 customers and forced many communities to spend well beyond their annual snow removal budgets.
Governor Healey said the state met every requirement for federal disaster assistance and criticized the denial of the request.
“This February, Massachusetts experienced one of the worst winter storms we’ve seen in decades,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our first responders, public works crews and local communities worked around the clock to keep people safe, and FEMA validated that Massachusetts exceeded the threshold for federal disaster assistance. Our communities did everything that was asked of them. They shouldn’t be left to shoulder these extraordinary costs alone, and the President of the United States shouldn’t play politics with disaster relief.”
According to the governor’s office, the Major Disaster Declaration request sought federal Public Assistance for state agencies and local governments in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk and Plymouth counties for eligible storm-related costs. The request also sought Snow Assistance for Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth counties, which experienced record-breaking snowfall.
The governor’s office said FEMA denied the request on July 2 despite previously confirming that Massachusetts exceeded the federal threshold for disaster assistance after determining the state had incurred approximately $45 million in eligible disaster costs.
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Dawn Brantley said the scope of the storm created extraordinary financial demands that extended beyond what local governments are expected to manage on their own.
“Massachusetts communities and state agencies are well-equipped to manage winter storms, and this blizzard was met with a strong, coordinated response that kept residents safe and communities running,” said MEMA Director Dawn Brantley. “What made this storm extraordinary wasn’t our ability to respond – it was the unprecedented cost of doing so. Federal disaster assistance is intended for exactly these situations, helping offset extraordinary response costs so communities aren’t forced to shoulder the financial burden of a historic event on their own.”
State officials said the February blizzard dropped nearly three feet of snow on top of existing accumulation from a January storm, causing widespread damage across eastern Massachusetts and prompting an extensive statewide emergency response.
During the storm, Governor Healey declared a State of Emergency, activated the State Emergency Operations Center and the Massachusetts National Guard, and requested out-of-state assistance from Connecticut, New York and Vermont to support snow removal operations.
The governor’s office also said Governor Healey secured $100 million in Fair Share funding to help cities and towns recover from extraordinary winter storm costs while continuing efforts to obtain the federal disaster assistance the state says it qualified to receive.