Massachusetts Seeks Federal Disaster Aid for Snowstorms

Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration plans to ask for federal disaster assistance for the record-setting snowstorms that wreaked havoc on Massachusetts and piled up about $400 million in snow removal costs.

An administration official tells The Associated Press the governor will be sending a letter to President Barack Obama by the end of this week asking for a disaster declaration for 10 Massachusetts counties. That covers roughly 250 cities and towns.

The request seeks 75 percent reimbursement to cities and towns for the costs of snow removal and other damage caused by the storms.

The state will ask that the severe weather over several weeks, beginning in late January, be treated as a single incident.

Massachusetts’ four westernmost counties were less severely affected and won’t be covered by the disaster request.