Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Receives Historic FEMA Major Disaster Declaration

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has received approval for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration related to the historic winter blizzard that impacted the Tribe’s Mashpee and Taunton properties earlier this year.

The declaration, FEMA-4919-DR, was approved on June 30, 2026, for the severe winter storm and snowstorm that took place February 22–23, 2026. The declaration makes Public Assistance available to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe for eligible emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Snow assistance has also been approved for a 48-hour period. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program remains under review.

According to Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Emergency Preparedness Officer Nelson Andrews Jr., the approval marks a historic milestone.

“This is an important and historic moment for our Tribe,” Andrews said. “To our knowledge, this is the first Presidential Major Disaster Declaration approved for a Tribal Nation in FEMA Region 1. Massachusetts and Rhode Island also submitted declaration requests connected to the same winter storm and were denied, making this approval especially significant. It shows the strength of our documentation, our preparedness work, and our Tribe’s ability to advocate directly for the resources needed to recover.”

The Tribe recently held a kickoff meeting with FEMA Regional leadership and Mashpee Wampanoag Vice Chairwoman Winnie Johnson Graham at the Government Center to begin the next steps in the recovery process. Emergency Management is now working through the initial requirements needed to request reimbursement for eligible storm-related damages.

The approval also reinforces the importance of Tribal sovereignty in emergency management. As a federally recognized Tribal Nation, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe can work directly with FEMA and the federal government when disasters impact Tribal lands, facilities, and operations.

“This declaration helps us move forward with recovery while also strengthening our emergency management capacity for the future,” Andrews said. “Our goal is always to protect our people, our facilities, and our community. This approval helps us continue that work.”

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Emergency Management Department will continue coordinating with FEMA and will provide updates as the reimbursement and recovery process moves forward.