As municipal and utility crews struggle to recover from a devastating ice storm that began Thursday, officials at the state level are using a proactive approach to tapping into federal resources for help.
Gov. John Baldacci requested federal disaster assistance Sunday after visiting York and Lincoln Counties.
Late Monday afternoon, he received word that Pres. Bush approved his request for an emergency declaration for York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties. That declaration means the Federal Emergency Management Agency is now providing assistance in the form of generators and shelter supplies and federal personnel. The federal government will pay 75 percent of the cost for those services.
On a more long-term basis, the Maine Emergency Management Agency is compiling information about the widespread damage in the event that Maine meets the threshold for additional recovery funds.
Lynette Miller, spokeswoman for MEMA, said federal funds would be triggered if the damage tally in Maine tops $1.6 million or if certain counties reach certain amounts.
These funds would pay for overtime for state agencies, equipment rental, monetary losses by homeowners and businesses, insurance payouts, and other results of the ice storm. The state would be expected to contribute about 15 percent of the total amount and local municipalities, 10 percent.
If Maine does not reach the threshold – which Miller said looks unlikely – the state would bear the costs on its own. Miller said most of the expense for state coffers is for the overtime services of the Department of Transportation, Maine State Police, the Dept. of Conservation, and the Maine Emergency Management Agency.
Maine has 30 days to request assistance, but Miller said her agency is hoping to have the necessary information by the end of the week.
“We have a lot of number crunching to do to determine if we qualify,” she said Monday afternoon. “Right now we are still in response mode. There are 40,000 folks still without power.”
Baldacci said the mix of federal, state, local, and neighborly assistance is once again displaying itself as a powerful force
“I appreciate the dedication exhibited by our local, county, state, and federal partners to quickly restore power to families and businesses, as well as to provide other crucial services to protect the health and safety of Maine people,” Baldacci said. “Additionally, individuals and private sector organizations and businesses have been doing a tremendous job helping their neighbors.”
At the height of the power outages, roughly 12,800 Lincoln County residents, 70 percent of York County and 50 percent of Cumberland County had lost electricity service. Central Maine Power reported that almost 40 percent of its customers, about 220,000 accounts, were without power.
The governor is also requesting a response from the Federal Small Business Administration to assist affected businesses in the state.
“This storm has had a significant impact on our state,” Gov. Baldacci said. “Families and businesses have been struggling to cope with cold temperatures and lost business. The state, working with our federal partners, will do everything possible to help our communities recover.”
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) said in a joint statement Monday that they hope federal assistance will help an already powerful network working to recover from the storm.
“We commend the local, county, and state officials who are working so hard to recover from this terrible ice storm,” wrote the senators. “State officials estimate that it will take several days to restore power due to the significant damage to the power infrastructure.
“As temperatures drop, the lack of power particularly places the elderly and those with special needs at risk. The severe weather has resulted in large amounts of debris, which in turn hinders the ability of emergency vehicles to reach and assist Maine residents and to restore power. Since the storm affected the neighboring states as well, power utilities have been forced to seek mutual aid resources from as far away as North Carolina.”
(Statehouse News Service)
