President Joe Biden has approved Maine’s request for a major disaster declaration to help eight coastal counties, including Cumberland, recover from storms on Jan. 10 and 13 that brought significant flooding and damage to Harpswell and other coastal areas, according to Gov. Janet Mills’ office.
The declaration will allow federal assistance to help Maine cover the cost of public infrastructure repairs from the January storms, which Mills’ office said is estimated at more than $70 million.
Biden also approved individual assistance requested by Mills that can provide direct relief to certain eligible individuals and families that experienced severe property damage, the governor’s office said.
The declaration covers public and individual assistance for Maine’s eight coastal counties: Washington, Hancock, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Cumberland and York.
“I thank President Biden for his approval of my request for a major disaster declaration for the January storms that devastated Maine’s iconic coast,” the governor said Wednesday in a news release. “President Biden’s approval unlocks federal relief funds that will help Maine communities, individuals, and families as they repair storm damage. My administration will continue to do everything possible to help Maine communities recover from and become more resilient to catastrophic weather events.”
Mills’ office said that in the coming weeks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with the Maine Emergency Management Agency and other state agencies, will establish disaster recovery centers in impacted areas.
FEMA disaster survivor assistance teams will be deployed to Maine to help impacted individuals and families apply for federal assistance that may help them pay for temporary housing, home repairs, and other needs resulting from the storm, the governor’s office said.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is expected to make low-interest loans available to help impacted businesses of all sizes, as well as eligible homeowners, renters and nonprofits, to repair or replace property damage resulting from the storm, the governor’s office said. Businesses also may be eligible for working capital loans. Small Business Administration staff will be on-site at disaster recovery centers as they are established, it said.
Maine’s congressional delegation issued a joint statement about the disaster declaration on Tuesday, March 21.
“We are grateful the (Biden) administration approved Maine’s request for a major disaster declaration — particularly by categorizing the two storms as a single event to expedite the process,” the delegation said. “This declaration will unlock critical federal funding so the counties impacted by the January storms can get back on their feet and start to rebuild.”
Have a comment or news tip? Email J. Craig Anderson at craig@harpswellanchor.org.
