Dear ,

Winter storm Hernando caused significant damage across the Cape & Islands, and the 4th Barnstable district was hit especially hard. As we dealt with many days without power and widespread destruction--our first responders, the Barnstable county emergency response team, towns and countless organizations, groups and volunteers leapt into action to care for our community. I visited local warming centers and shelters Governor Healey and Senator Cyr to thank their staff and volunteers, and to speak with constituents who were there for heat and shelter. It was inspiring to see the cooperation of so many groups and organizations, and most especially, the patience and resilience shown by our community during those long, cold and dark days. THANK YOU everyone. 

Please see the resources below for recovering food benefits, insurance claims, and other post-storm information. Many businesses have reached out to us looking for guidance with insurance or state reimbursement. We hope these resources are helpful, and please don't hesitate to call my office with questions.

With gratitude,

Hadley

At the Provincetown Shelter with Governor Healy, Senator Cyr, Provincetown Police Chief Greg Hennick, Assistant Town Manager Dan Riviello, and members of the State Police and National Guard.

Upcoming Community Office Hours

Thursday, March 6, 4:00-5:00 PM - Harwich Community Center

Friday, March 20, 3-4 PM - Chatham Town Offices

Monday, March 30, 4-5 PM - Virtual:

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/23740348642970?p=SKKH7MYfDTbbdvuGnC

Meeting ID: 237 403 486 429 70

Passcode: qx2GV2CG

Dial in by phone

+1 617-865-5269

Phone conference ID: 789 283 227#

Storm Recovery Resources

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is conducting a damage assessment. If your residence or business was damaged by winter storm Hernando, submit a report here as this data will help to determine Barnstable County's eligibility for FEMA assistance: https://forms.office.com/g/W7V1kzB3wk Please share this survey with anyone you think should see it.

Take photos or videos to document any damage to your home or property, and contact your insurance company. If you have questions about disaster insurance claims, review the Disaster Guide for Consumers or contact the Massachusetts Division of Insurance. If your home requires construction to repair or rebuild, take steps to avoid scams and fraud.

SNAP Benefits - Lost Food Due to Power Outage? If you lost food purchased with SNAP due to the storm or power outage, you may qualify for replacement benefits. You must report the loss within 10 days.

Report loss to MA Department of Transitional Assistance: 877-382-2363 and press 5 for “household misfortune” or visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/snap-household-misfortune

Join the Family Table Collaborative’s upcoming meal distribution to receive nutritious, fresh, ready to enjoy meals for you and your family. 

Orleans-Eastham Elks Lodge

Next Distribution date: March 12, 2026

Sign-up deadline: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT

Sign-up here: https://www.familytablecollaborative.org/ 

Cannot Leave Your Home?

If you are homebound due to unplowed roads, medical needs, disability, or lack of transportation and are experiencing a serious food emergency, please contact Andrea Scarpellini, Food Access Coordinator at andrea.scarpellini@capecod.gov

Please include: Your town, brief description of your situation and phone number. 

Response times are dependent upon road conditions and volunteer availability.

Coping with Disaster

The emotional effects of a disaster can sometimes be more difficult than the loss of home or property. The SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7 crisis counseling and support year round.

• Call 1-800-985-5990

• TTY for people with hearing impairments at 1-800-846-8517

• Text TalkWithUs to 66746

Call 211 for info on disaster services, shelters, or referrals for social services. 

Celebrating Black History Month

State House's Black History Month Exhibit in Memorial Hall.

February was Black History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the rich cultural heritage, triumphs and adversities exemplified by Black Americans though our nation's history. In recognition of the invaluable contributions of Black leaders across our Commonwealth, the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus hosts an annual celebration to honor those who are making a lasting impact in our communities. I nominated Reverend Wesley Williams, to receive this award for the 4th Barnstable district.

Rev. Williams is a retired minister, and co-founder of the Martin Luther King Jr. Action Team on Cape Cod and Nauset Interfaith Association. His dedication to social justice has made a profound impact on the Outer Cape. Read more about Wesley below.

Reverend Wesley Williams' Nomination Page.

Community Tours & Visits

Touring Harwich Port Health Center with Senator Cyr, OCHS CEO Damian Archer, HHS Secretary Mahaniah, and OCHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marie-Adrine Constant.

My team and I visited with many groups and organizations in December, including: 

• Health and Human Services Commissioner Mahaniah

• Cape & Islands Delegation & Barnstable County Environmental Discussion

• Truro Community Kitchen's Community Dinner

• Orleans Democratic Town Committee

• Cape Cod Women For Change

• Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre

HHS Commissioner Dr. Kiame Mahaniah visited Cape Cod in early February to engage directly with local healthcare leaders. We started in Harwich with a roundtable discussion on behavioral health access, joined by stakeholders representing communities across the Cape. The Commissioner’s visit also included tours of Outer Cape Health Services and Cape Cod Healthcare to better understand the challenges and successes shaping care in our region.

The Cape and Islands Delegation recently met with Barnstable County Commissioner Mark Forest and many town Natural Resource directors to discuss regional challenges related to stormwater, fish passage, and dredging projects, and identify opportunities for state partnership to help complete these critical projects.

It was wonderful to attend Truro Community Kitchen's free Community Dinner. On these cold winter nights, gatherings like this are so important. They offer a warm meal, a gathering space, and a welcoming chance for our community to connect. Don't miss the next scheduled dinner on March 9, 2026. 

Interested in Following Legislation?

We are often asked how constituents can follow specific legislation. MyLegislature offers a personalized, interactive tool for users to track state legislators, bills of interest, committee hearings, press releases, and more. Here are steps you can follow as a guide:

1) Visit: https://malegislature.gov/MyLegislature/About  

2) Click ‘Register for MyLegislature’  

3) Create an account  

4) Confirm your email address by clicking on the link in your email inbox (check spam folder)  

5) Complete your profile to include your address and issues areas of interest  

6) Search bills you want to track by clicking the ‘Bills and Laws’ button on the task bar and typing the bill name into the search engine 

7) Track a bill by clicking the star next to the bill number

8) Track upcoming hearings by selecting ‘My Hearings’ from the MyLegislature dropdown menu on the top right of the page and clicking the star next to the hearing of interest

State House News

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has officially awarded the first Seasonal Community grants via the $1.9M grant program to all 14 designated seasonal communities. These awards will help the 14 communities advance year-round housing, strengthen local infrastructure, and support the unique needs resulting from significant seasonal swings in housing demand and employment. I'm delighted to congratulate the following towns on their awards:

• Chatham — $175,000 for design, engineering and permitting to develop 14 affordable units on town-owned land (14 units unlocked).
• Eastham — $175,000 for design and engineering for a mixed-use building and Main Street design and engineering work (2 units unlocked).
• Orleans — $175,000 to create a Year-Round Housing Trust and support acquisition work and sewer connections for a four-unit project (4+ units unlocked).
• Provincetown — $134,692 for infrastructure and building upgrades at two town-owned properties to support housing, including work such as sewer connections, roof replacement and site work (28 units unlocked).
• Truro — $106,723 for pre-construction design of a wastewater system for the Walsh Property, a town-owned future affordable housing development site (160 units unlocked).
• Wellfleet — $132,426 for work supporting housing and year-round residency, including a protective barrier at the wastewater treatment facility, an ADU assistance program, down payment and closing cost assistance and community engagement (3+ units unlocked).

Additionally, EOHLC is holding a series of listening sessions throughout the state to provide an opportunity for residents, advocates, and stakeholders to share their experiences, identify barriers to fair housing, and shape strategies to ensure that every community in the Commonwealth is inclusive and equitable. In partnership with Housing Assistance Corporation and SouthCoast Fair Housing, EOHLC will be hosting a virtual Fair Housing Regional Listening Session for the Cape & Islands on Monday, March 9 at 1:00PM. RSVP here to share your insights on March 9th.

Upcoming Community Events

• Year-Rounders Festival, 10 A.M. March 8, Provincetown Town Hall

• Gardening Workshop, 1 P.M. March 8, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

• Herring Count Kickoff, 4:30 P.M. March 12, Harwich Community Center

• Nauset High School Grand Opening, 1 P.M. March 14, 100 Cable Road, Eastham

• Tech Help, 10 A.M - 2 P.M. March 14 & 28, Truro Public Library

• Meet Your Local Farmers - 10- 2 P.M. March 28, Cape Cod Technical High School

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

Please continue to reach out to me at hadley@hadleyluddy.com or contact my office.

I appreciate hearing from you!

Best,

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