FEMADR-1959-MAMajor disasterDeclared March 7, 2011
DR-1959-MA: Massachusetts Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Massachusetts (DR-1959-MA) on March 7, 2011 for the incident of January 11, 2011 to January 12, 2011; it covers 7 designated areas. FEMA had approved obligated $25.8 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1959-MA (also written FEMA-1959-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Massachusetts
- Incident
- Snowstorm: Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm
- Incident period
- January 11, 2011 to January 12, 2011
- Declared
- March 7, 2011
- Programs declared
- Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 1
- Place in the year
- the first of 3 major disaster declarations for Massachusetts in 2011
- Status
- closed out on April 15, 2021
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
Which areas are covered, and for what?
| Designated area | Individuals and Households | Public Assistance | Hazard Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkshire (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Essex (County)(in PMSA 1120,4160,7090) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Hampden (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Hampshire (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Middlesex (County)(in (P)MSA 1120,2600,4560) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Norfolk (County)(in PMSA 1120,1200,6060) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Suffolk (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
An area can be added to a declaration after the first day, or have a program added: this table is FEMA's current list.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
How much has FEMA approved?
$25.8 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$1.5 millionHazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated
Individual assistance figures as of n/a, public assistance as of May 17, 2026. FEMA updates both as applications are decided.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2); FEMA, OpenFEMA FEMA Web Disaster Summaries (v1). Data as of September 29, 2026.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
FEMA's page for this declaration
FEMA's own page for this declaration is fema.gov/disaster/1959. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application.