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FEMADR-4496-MAMajor disasterDeclared March 27, 2020

DR-4496-MA: Massachusetts Covid-19 Pandemic

FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Massachusetts (DR-4496-MA) on March 27, 2020 for the incident of January 20, 2020 to May 11, 2023; it covers 17 designated areas. FEMA had approved $70.5 million for 10,337 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $3.5 billion in Public Assistance (as of September 17, 2026).

The declaration

Declaration
DR-4496-MA (also written FEMA-4496-DR)
Type
Major disaster declaration
State
Massachusetts
Incident
Biological: Covid-19 Pandemic
Incident period
January 20, 2020 to May 11, 2023
Declared
March 27, 2020
Programs declared
Individuals and Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
FEMA region
1
Place in the year
the only major disaster declaration for Massachusetts in 2020
Status
open (not yet closed out by FEMA)
Registration deadline (individual help)
September 30, 2025

Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.

Which areas are covered, and for what?

Designated areaIndividuals and HouseholdsPublic AssistanceHazard Mitigation
Barnstable (County)YesYesYes
Berkshire (County)YesYesYes
Bristol (County)(in (P)MSA 1120,1200,2480,5400,6060)YesYesYes
Dukes (County)YesYesYes
Essex (County)(in PMSA 1120,4160,7090)YesYesYes
Franklin (County)YesYesYes
Hampden (County)YesYesYes
Hampshire (County)YesYesYes
Hassanamisco Indian Reservation——Yes
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe——Yes
Middlesex (County)(in (P)MSA 1120,2600,4560)YesYesYes
Nantucket (County)YesYesYes
Norfolk (County)(in PMSA 1120,1200,6060)YesYesYes
Plymouth (County)(in (P)MSA 1120,1200,5400)YesYesYes
Suffolk (County)YesYesYes
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)——Yes
Worcester (County) (in (P)MSA 1120,2600,9240)YesYesYes

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?

10,337households approved for help (IHP)

$70.5 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved

$70.5 millionof it for other needs

$3.5 billionPublic Assistance obligated

$70.7 millionHazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated

Individual assistance figures as of October 1, 2026, public assistance as of September 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/4496. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on September 30, 2025.