Watertown Officials Met with FEMA to Get Back Some of the Money Spent Chasing the Bombing Suspects

Watertown officials met with representatives from FEMA to try to get some of the money back that police, fire and other departments spent on the search for the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects.

FEMA set up an office in Boston following the bombing, and Watertown officials met with FEMA officials on May 22. Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau said last week he , but how much they will receive is not yet known.

The application process is more simple for Watertown and other communities in Middlesex, Suffolk and Norfolk counties will be able to apply directly to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency) for reimbursement, said Donald Jacks, an external affairs officer with FEMA.

"Watertown is an eligible applicant, and can petition FEMA for reimbursement without having to go through the City of Boston," Jacks said. "Jurisdictions outside those three counties, they would have to go through the City of Boston with any mutual aid agreements or assistance pacts to get reimbursement."

Items such as equipment and overtime will be covered, Jacks said, but will not cover expenses such as repairing damages to private property.

"Under this Emergency Declaration that the president signed April 17, it only covers one category under the Emergency Declaration and that is for emergency protective measures - steps taken by a jurisdiction to ensure public safety."

The Emergency Declaration only applies to Massachusetts, Jacks said, so communities like Nashua, N.H. - which sent police officers to Boston after the bombing - will need to seek assistance from Boston.

The time period covered is limited, too. 

"The incident period begins at 2:50 p.m. on April 15 when first explosion occurred and goes for the next seven days, until 11:59 p.m. on April 22," Jacks said. "The Commonwealth has requested an extension for one more week until April 29, went to the FEMA office and is under review."

Watertown's reimbursement has not been announced yet, Jacks said.