Sweeping power outages resulting from an ice storm in December contributed to a presidential declaration of disaster for Maine, leading to making Federal Emergency Management Agency funding available for towns around Lincoln County.
Several local Emergency Management Agency directors met with state and federal officials to apply for federal aid during a public disaster assistance informational meeting in Wiscasset Jan. 26. The Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency hosted the meeting following the presidential declaration that will give federal funds to Maine towns for assistance with restoration efforts.
According to a press release dated Jan. 9, former President George Bush issued a declaration for Maine as a result of damage from storms in Dec. 2008 that included an ice storm and flooding after heavy rains.
The ice storm of 2008 started on Dec. 12 and caused extensive damage to trees and power lines. At the height of the storm, 12,800 citizen homes and 592 roads were without power.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program will provide public assistance for repair of damage sustained as a result of these storms. The seven counties to get funding include Androscoggin, Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo and York counties.
The 40-some people in the audience included emergency agency directors from Bristol, Wiscasset, Damariscotta, Westport, Edgecomb, Waldoboro and Boothbay Harbor. Also present at the meeting was Bob Reynolds from the office of Sen. Susan Collins.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay 75 percent of the cost to repair major damages resulting from the storm in December. According to Ron Looman, the Senior Contract Grant Specialist and Public Assistance Officer of MEMA, this figure covers larger projects that cost more than $64,200.
The Grant will also cover small projects under $64,200 and will pay 75 percent of the cost. Towns will ultimately have a 10 percent cost share for projects.
Much of what towns will seek reimbursement for in disaster related costs include plowing, sanding and salting of roads and debris removal. The FEMA grants also cover overtime work hours for police and other emergency personnel.
During the public disaster assistance informational meeting, emergency management directors filled out project forms and applications following presentations by Looman and other agency representatives.
Waldoboro EMA Director Kyle Santheson said that most of his town’s reimbursement funding will go toward sand and salt costs.
“We had a number of trees come down,” Santheson said. “Roads were opened and plows pushed everything into the ditch, then we got two feet of snow dumped on us.”
Due to snow cover of debris, FEMA will extend the help date, MEMA representative Beth Barton said. Completion for the various categories of emergency work are from six-18 months, depending on the extent of damage. The agencies will give extended periods of time beyond July 8, 2009 if necessary.
According to Environmental Specialist Habib Saccoh (FEMA), much of the work agency directors will be requesting funds for are categorized for six months. More permanent work such as the restoration of houses, public facilities and roads are allocated 18 months. Saccoh said the categories of emergency work could change as spring comes around, depending on whether or not towns experience flooding.
Towns have 60 days to get data to FEMA to begin the process of the funding for projects. Town emergency directors filled out their applications at the meeting. Looman said once forms are filed, FEMA representatives would visit the sites on which projects are to take place.
Santheson said he would begin to draft up the project worksheets, which are the next step in the process. He said it would most likely take a couple weeks to add up all of the costs.
