Financial Assistance
A Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund has been set up at the Essex County Community Foundation.
For those permanently displaced from their home:
Please reach out to the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council for immediate support:
Evelyn Friedman
Greater Lawrence Community Action Council
(978) 620-4700 or efriedman@glcac.org
For the 8600 Columbia Gas customers whose meters were affected, but who have not been permanently displaced:
You will receive support from the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund as soon as a system of disbursement is in place. Please continue to check this site for that information. In the meantime, please contact your community's resource center to begin the Columbia Gas reimbursement claims process.
*All 8600 gas customers who were affected by the Sept. 13 crisis should continue to check the Columbia Gas website for the most up to date information regarding service and reimbursements: www.columbiagasma.com/en/merrimack-valley-incident
How is the Disaster Relief Fund different from the claims Columbia Gas is reimbursing?
Authorities say Columbia Gas has agreed to compensate its customers for all losses including claims related to bodily injury, property damage, disruption of business and other inconveniences caused by loss of gas service. Please advise patients to save all receipts! Claims centers have been set up in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. Residents can also file claims by phone. Columbia Gas says the company will also reimburse customers for the cost of switching to alternative fuel sources like electric or oil.
But the Columbia Gas and other insurance claims will take some time to process and reimburse the individuals and families affected by this crisis. The Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund was setup specifically to be a lifeline in the meantime, providing shelter and sustenance to those who need it.
Do I have to prove income eligibility to benefit from the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund?
No. These funds support all of the 8600 Columbia Gas customers whose gas meters were affected because of the Sept. 13 fires in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, regardless of income.
More information: http://www.eccf.org/lawrenceemergencyfund.
Gas Billing and Collections
Virginia Anthony, manager of customer relations at Columbia Gas of Massachusetts (CMA), reported to the National Consumer Law Center that billing and collection activities have been suspended for all customers residing in the affected area (parts of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover). Also, because so many families have had to relocate, at least temporarily, and may have been unable to get to work, they may be struggling even more than usual to pay their bills. Virginia tells us that the "company will work with all of these customers if they are struggling to pay their bills. "
Need billing advocacy assistance? If the company is not offering extended payment plans or otherwise addressing the problem, advocates may contact Charlie Harak or Jen Bosco. Please do not refer clients directly. Contact: Charles Harak, National Consumer Law Center, 617-542-8010, charak@nclc.org
Merrimack Valley Residents Report Receiving Large Backdated Gas Bills- MGH Community News, January 2019
SNAP Replacement Benefits
SNAP replacement benefits are available for a variety of reasons, and may be pertinent to SNAP recipients from Lawrence, Andover and North Andover who lost power during the emergency last week. If a family lost food as a result of the explosions (or power shut-off) and/or their food became unsafe to eat due to loss of refrigeration, they may be eligible for SNAP replacement benefits. SNAP households have 10 days from the loss of food to verbally make the request and another 10 days to follow up. DTA may be alerting SNAP households in those communities and possibly allowing additional time to make the replacement request.
DTA can issue up to one month of replacement SNAP.
Learn more about SNAP misfortune replacement benefits, including how make a request to DTA.
See our main disaster response page for additional information and resources.
