Governor Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration

Letter

Governor Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration

Governor John E. Baldacci has formally requested expedited federal assistance to assist the State in responding to the major disaster resulting from the record breaking flooding in Aroostook County. The letter to the President and FEMA notes that the severe rain storms, snow melt and flooding began April 28 and is continuing.

"This was an extraordinary storm that displaced hundreds of northern Maine families and caused significant damage to public and private structures, including the International Bridge connecting Fort Kent to New Brunswick," said Governor Baldacci. "We will put all of our efforts into helping Aroostook County rebuild from this devastating flood."

The Governor toured the area by air this morning with FEMA 1 Regional Administrator Art Cleaves and members of Maine's Congressional Delegation. They also met with local emergency management authorities in Fort Kent, where an incident command post has been established.

The Governor reminded residents to document the damage done to their property, which will facilitate approval of federal assistance to individuals if the federal declaration is given by President Bush.

The text of the letter requesting the federal declaration follows.

May 2, 2008

The Honorable George W. Bush

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20500

Through: Mr. Arthur Cleaves, Regional Director

FEMA Region One

99 High Street, 6th Floor

Boston, MA 02110

Dear Mr. President:

Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR § 206.36, I request that you declare a major disaster for Aroostook County in the State of Maine as a result of severe rain storms, snow melt and flooding which impacted the State beginning April 28, 2008 and is continuing.

After a winter in which 16 and a half feet of snow fell in Aroostook County, breaking the historical record for a seasonal snowfall, warming temperatures and a severe rainstorm beginning on April 28 caused record flooding on the Fish, St. John and Aroostook Rivers. The US Geological Survey calculates the flooding event to be a 100- to 500-year event on these rivers.

On April 28 the National Weather Service warned of potential record flooding. As the event developed, floods water rose well above levels that have been measured in 81 years of record-keeping. In the town of Fort Kent, the rising water came within inches of overtopping the 30-foot levee that protects the downtown. In the small rural towns of Wallagrass, Van Buren, Washburn, Masardis and many others, families were removed from their homes.

In response to the situation, I have taken appropriate action under State law. In anticipation of emergency conditions, I directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan on Monday, April 28, 2008 in accordance with Section 401 of the Stafford Act.

In order to release all State resources to respond to this event, I declared a State of Emergency as of 5 p.m. on April 29, 2008. That State of Emergency remains in effect.

Thanks to the decisive action of local officials who acted under my authority to order evacuations, and the heroic efforts of responders, no deaths have been attributed to the flooding. I have now surveyed the County twice by air, and on the ground in the Town of Fort Kent, and can personally certify the devastating damage the County suffered. We estimate that over 200 homes have been damaged, many receiving major damage. We know that between 600 and 1,000 people were removed from their homes.

I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the affected local governments and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary. I am specifically requesting Individual Assistance, including the Individuals and Households Program, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Hazard Mitigation and Small Business Administration disaster loans. I intend to implement the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide. The State has a FEMA-approved Standard State Mitigation Plan in place.

I have also requested a joint federal-state Preliminary Damage Assessment for Public Assistance in Aroostook County and several other Counties in the state that have reported substantial damages, and intend to request additional assistance as the need is verified.

State, local and private resources that have been or will be used to alleviate the conditions of this disaster include: repairs to the Federal Aid Highway System and state highways and temporary repair assistance to local governments by the Maine Department of Transportation; alerting, warning, and traffic control by the Department of Public Safety, Department of Transportation and local public safety agencies; search and rescue and evacuation by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, public health activities by the Department of Health and Human Services; environmental cleanup by the Department of Environmental Protection; coordination with electrical and telecommunications utilities by the Public Utilities Commission; operational coordination by the Department of Conservation; shelter operations by the American Red Cross and local officials and volunteers; emergency assistance to private citizens by local responders and volunteer agencies; emergency coordination and damage assessment by the Maine Emergency Management Agency and Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency; damage assessment by the Department of Transportation and power restoration by public utilities.

I certify that for this major disaster the State and local governments will assume all applicable non-federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act.

I have designated Robert McAleer as the State Coordinating Officer for this request. He will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in damage assessments and may provide further information or justification on my behalf.

Sincerely,

John Elias Baldacci

Governor

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