THEWHITEHOUSE OfficeofthePressSecretary FORIMMEDIATERELEASEApril17,2013 PresidentObamaSignsMassachusettsEmergencyDeclaration The President today declared an emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered

federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from explosions on April 15, 2013, and covering eligible activities through April 22,2013. The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency ManagementAgency(FEMA),tocoordinate alldisaster reliefeffortswhich have thepurposeofalleviatingthehardshipand suffering caused by the emergencyonthelocalpopulation,andtoprovide appropriate assistance for required emergencymeasures, authorizedunderTitleV ofthe Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Middlesex,Norfolk,andSuffolk. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resourcesnecessarytoalleviatetheimpactsofthe emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance,willbeprovidedat75percentfederalfunding. W.CraigFugate,Administrator,FederalEmergencyManagementAgency (FEMA),DepartmentofHomelandSecurity,namedJamesN.Russoasthe FederalCoordinatingOfficerforfederalrecoveryoperationsintheaffected

area.