The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is asking residents in the southeastern part of the state, including the Vineyard, to assess damage from last week’s blizzard to see if the state can qualify for federal disaster funding.
The state agency put out a call out to towns and cities on Monday, asking for residents and businesses to fill out a survey form to create high-level cost estimates for work and other activities undertaken by communities in response to the storm.
Several of the Island towns posted notices of the survey on their websites this week, and the Edgartown select board urged people to fill out the forms.
“The more input from the community the better,” said town administrator James Hagerty.
If the region is eligible, the funds would go directly to the state, which would then mete the cash out to the towns.
“They’ll start compiling,” Mr. Hagerty said. “If we’re going to get any funds, then from there we’ll go through the process.”
Edgartown went through a similar assessment in the winter of 2023-2024, when several storms battered eroded the Island’s southern-facing beaches.
The most recent blizzard, which started on Feb. 22 and ran through the following day, dropped 20 inches of snow on the Island and tore down trees and power lines. Some residents were without power for days, prompting towns to open shelters and warming stations.
Power was restored to almost all of the Island by last Friday, but cleanup efforts are continuing.
The survey form is available here. Responses have to be returned by March 6.