LEOMINSTER, Mass. - Emma Palazzo lives in Leominster and remembers just how scared she was when severe flooding ripped through the city last September.

"I had heard our river just running like crazy," Palazzo said. "That's when I looked outside and then looked to my partner and I said 'Jason, what the hell is going on?'"

Palazzo said the basement of her living complex was completely flooded and streets around them were completely covered in water, which would lead to some of them crumbling right before their eyes. 

Reasons like those are why it comes as a shock to the Leominster resident that FEMA has denied the state's request for a major disaster declaration.

"The incredible loss that we experienced overnight, and not even overnight, within three hours, and they're saying that's denied," Palazzo said. "I think it is ridiculous."

Mayor Dean Mazzarella has similar feelings. The mayor said while much of the damage has been repaired, they're still living with the after effects of the flooding five months later.

"We were shocked and disappointed, obviously," said Mazzarella. "We don't understand, we don't know what they used. We got a letter saying it's not severe enough, the damage isn't severe enough."

Communities like Princeton were also hit hard, as numerous streets in town were damaged and impassable. 

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a letter to Gov. Maura Healey, "Based on our review of all of the information available, it has been determined that the damage from this event was not of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state, affected local governments and voluntary agencies."

"I thought to myself, I don't know where those funds are going to come from," Mazzarella said. "That's a lot of money. We were told right along $3 million worth of damage for the county, $12 million for the state. We more than exceeded that. Just the municipal part of this was $35 million that we submitted."

Moving forward, Mazzarella said his hope is to work with the state's congressional delegation. Healey said her office plans to appeal FEMA's decision.