The state of emergency declared in Massachusetts over Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee has been lifted, officials announced Saturday.
“I’m relieved that the impacts of Hurricane Lee have been minimal across Massachusetts, so we’re lifting the states of emergency declared earlier this week,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a post on social media.
“I’m grateful for residents and public safety officials who have been responding to and preparing for severe weather and flooding throughout the week. We’ll continue to support you as we rebuild and recover,” the Democratic governor added.
Earlier this week, Healey declared the state of emergency, activating the National Guard in anticipation of Lee, which was later downgraded from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone. The aim was to assist coastline communities most impacted by the storm’s effects, including strong wind gusts, minor flooding and the dangerous surf. The governor also requested assistance from the federal government.
On Saturday, as Lee was moving north toward Canada and passing by the coast of the commonwealth, Democratic President Joe Biden approved the emergency declaration in Massachusetts, freeing up the Federal Emergency Management Agency “to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency,” according to a statement from the White House.
“The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the 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 all 14 Massachusetts counties,” the statement reads.
In the hours since the post-tropical cyclone peaked Saturday morning, the storm’s impacts have subsided and winds have diminished. Now, in Canada, parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are facing hurricane conditions.
Other lingering effects of Lee include gusty northwest winds of 30 to 35 mph over the Cape and Islands through around midnight Saturday, potential coastal flooding on Nantucket and the north side of the Cape and a dangerous surf with large breaking waves and a hazaroud rip tide along the coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
