Gov. Maura Healey asked President Biden Wednesday to declare a major disaster in parts of Massachusetts so communities hit by damaging September storms can access federal assistance.

Heavy rains and flooding left roads and homes damaged in Leominster and North Attleboro and prompted Healey to declare a four-day state of emergency as crews worked to clean up the municipalities. The storms required evacuations, water rescues, and the construction of temporary roadways so first responders and residents could access homes.

Healey, who traveled to North Attleboro and Leominster, said she saw first-hand the “devastating impacts” of the storms.

“The extraordinarily heavy rainfall flooded thousands of homes and businesses, destroyed infrastructure, and required a significant public safety response. I’m requesting federal assistance to support our ongoing recovery efforts as communities and residents continue to rebuild,” Healey said in a statement.

A president can declare a major disaster for any natural event they find to have caused damage that “exceeds the combined capabilities of state and local governments to respond,” the Healey administration said.

A declaration opens the door to federal assistance for individuals and public infrastructure through a program managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Hazard mitigation assistance, which provides dollars to reduce disaster losses, is also made available.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency works with federal counterparts to assess potentially reimbursable damages caused by or related to a disaster.

When those assessments are complete, FEMA determines whether the state and municipalities have “reached the required federal damage threshold for a major disaster declaration,” according to the Healey administration.

MEMA Direct Dawn Brantley said the organization’s staff responded to Attleboro, North Attleboro, Lancaster, Leominster, Princeton, Springfield, and Sterling to support their recovery.

“FEMA has been an excellent partner through the process of conducting joint preliminary damage assessments, and MEMA recognizes the commitment of the communities that dedicated significant time and attention to this endeavor while also facing the challenges of recovery,” Brantley said in a statement.