Hurricane Lee: Biden declares emergency in Massachusetts, Trudeau gathers response team

U.S. President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration on Saturday, authorizing federal assistance to support the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, tribal, and local response efforts in addressing the emergency conditions caused by Hurricane Lee.

“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,” a White House statement reads.

Tropical storm conditions and coastal flooding persist in Atlantic Canada, as reported by NOAA and Environment Canada. These conditions are set to extend northward within Tropical Storm Warning areas, causing downed trees and power outages from strong winds. Potential localized flooding is expected in eastern Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia due to additional rainfall from Hurricane Lee. Dangerous surf and rip currents remain along various coastlines.

As of early Sunday, Hurricane Lee maintains sustained winds of 93 kilometers an hour, moving northeast. Heavy rains persist in New Brunswick, Gaspe Peninsula, and Quebec Lower North Shore per Environment Canada. Prince Edward Island, eastern Nova Scotia, and Magdalen Islands face high winds and waves, causing outages and structural damage. Wind warnings continue, with gusts up to 100 kilometers an hour. Rainfall warnings are in effect for New Brunswick and specific parts of Quebec, anticipating over 100 millimeters. While high waves impact Nova Scotia’s coast, flooding risk has diminished. Gale warnings persist for most waters, with waves up to 7 meters.

On Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened the Incident Response Group to assess the potential impact of Hurricane Lee on Atlantic Canada and parts of eastern Quebec. They discussed preparedness and potential community impacts, emphasizing the government’s commitment to working closely with provincial governments, First Nations communities, and emergency response organizations. PM Trudeau urged adherence to local authorities’ advice for safety and assured support for affected individuals and communities, with key response agencies on standby for potential federal aid if required.