Gov. Janet Mills (D) has formally requested that President Joe Biden (D) issue a major disaster declaration for Cumberland and York Counties in response to the Nor’easter that occurred in early April, resulting in widespread damage and power outages.
According to a press release published by the governor’s office Thursday, the state’s costs associated with the storm are expected to exceed $3.5 million.
If a major disaster declaration is granted, it will make available emergency grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including from the Public Assistance (PA) Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
FEMA’s PA Program is designed to provide “supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and certain types of private non-profits so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.”
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is intended to make grants available to eligible entities so that they “can develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild in a way that reduces, or mitigates, future disaster losses in their communities.”
Click Here to Read Gov. Mills’ Full Press Release
Mills explains in her letter to President Biden that nearly 400,000 Maine households lost power as a result of the storm, with restoration efforts lasting as long as a week in some parts of the state.
“Power outages peaked at 129,000 outages in York County on the morning of April 4th, and at approximately 105,000 outages in Cumberland County,” Mills wrote.
“Reports of power disruptions and the need for back-up power spanned York and Cumberland County hospitals, fire stations, public safety facilities, water treatment facilities, and communication towers linked to dispatch and 911 services,” said Mills. “For calls that went through, first responders reportedly struggled to access numerous caller locations due to downed trees, downed wires, and debris in the roads.”
A statewide Preliminary Damage Assessment found that there were $1,441,914 worth of damages in Cumberland County and $1,671,322 in York County, both surpassing the minimum threshold for assistance.
According to Mills, however, the actual cost of the damage sustained is likely much higher, as these estimations do not incorporate the cost of “other damage categories [that were] not as thoroughly reviewed” during the assessment process.
Mills also notes in her letter to the president that Maine has received a total of six disaster declarations and one emergency declaration over the course of the past two years.
“With the increased frequency and intensity of storm events in Maine over the last 24 months, emergency management officials across all levels of government remain stretched in their fiscal and programmatic capacity to respond to and recover from disasters,” Mills wrote.
“While my administration has pledged $60 million to helping Maine communities recover and build back stronger from recent disaster events,” the governor continued, “supplemental grants through FEMA would specifically enable communities across Cumberland County and York County to support the comprehensive recovery needs associated with the severe early April storm.”
[RELATED: $60 Million for Storm Relief Initiatives Soon to Be Transferred from Budget Stabilization Fund]
“At this time, Cumberland County, York County, and the State of Maine have all successfully met their respective per capita thresholds, so I once again, humbly, request that a Major Disaster be declared due to the impacts of the April 3, 2024, to April 4, 2024, sever winter storms,” Mills concluded.
Click Here to Read Gov. Mills’ Full Letter to Pres. Biden
As of now, it remains to be seen how long it will take for the Biden Administration to make a decision on Mills’ request.
The governor’s most recent application for a disaster declaration was approved by the federal government nearly a month after it was first submitted.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="27722 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=27722">8 Comments
The “disasters” are getting increasingly less disastrous. If I’m not mistaken Mills is wearing a Schott leather jacket. I’ve owned two since the late 1970’s and need a new one. Problem is Schott is based in NYC – a city in a state I’ve vowed never to business with again.
In the past few months, the Israel lobby has:
Stolen $26,000,000,000 from American taxpayers to finance crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Hijacked the American armed forces for use against Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Iran.
Infringed America’s right to trade with Russia, Syria and Iran.
Transgressing every clause of the first amendment by enacting federal legislation to force the sale of TikTok, and to enshrine the IHRA definition of “anti-Semitism” into law.
Mobilized gangs of zionist thugs to attack peaceful protesters in UCLA.
Staged a frat boy American dream publicity stunt at UNC with jewish actors funded by zionist
Turned the NYPD into a defacto gang of zionist thugs to attack peaceful protesters at Columbia University
Shouldn’t the disaster declaration include her entire term as governor?
If she and her pals hadn’t spent every cent we had we wouldn’t need to beg more money from other states.
janet is a joke.
We need relife money for illegals. Our school kids are getting screwed along with our school taxes.
Aid money that will go directly into the pockets of Mills supporters and the DNC
The only “disaster relief” Maine needs is to get EVERY single democRAT OUT of our government !!!!!!!!!!