As Andover residents and business owners cleaned up from Friday’s rainstorm, local officials were looking for assistance from the Massachusetts and Federal Emergency Management Agencies.
“In the interest of exhausting every avenue for the benefit of the community, Town Departments, including the Fire Department, Police Department, and Department of Public Works, are internally collecting municipal data that will be promptly shared with MEMA,” The Town said in a Friday afternoon statement.
As part of the data collection, residents and business owners should report damage to manager@andoverma.us, so it can be forwarded to MEMA.
Friday’s storm dumped nearly 2 inches of rain on Andover, flooded businesses and homes, and forced power shutdowns to more than 200 customers throughout Town as water threatened to rise above basement electrical panels. Streets and roads were closed at various points Friday morning so DPW crews could clear water. Hardest hit were Downtown, North Main Street and Shawsheen Village, where multiple businesses reported flooding.
It was the second heavy rainfall in eight days to disrupt life in Andover.
If your home or business was damaged:
- Report flooding damage to manager@andoverma.us.
- Report claims to your insurance company.
- Contact the Massachusetts Storms Clean Up Hotline by calling 617-207-5633 if you need help removing fallen trees, removing damaged drywall, flooring and appliances, tarping roofs or mitigating mold. Services are free, but the hotline closes Friday (more info).
If FEMA decides to release disaster relief funds, the money would be awarded to counties. Andover did not declare a local emergency Friday, but the Town would be eligible for state and federal disaster relief.
FEMA’s regional administrator would have to request, and President Joe Biden would need to approve, a major disaster declaration before individual residents and business owners could receive individual assistance.
Photo of damage at Pomps Pond after Friday’s storm: Andover Recreation/Facebook