Emergency Funds Provided for Maine Snowstorm

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster funds have been made available for Maine to supplement emergency response efforts for a third record snowstorm that struck the state in early March.

Michael Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said President Bush ordered the aid under an emergency declaration issued after a review of the agency’s analysis of the state’s request for federal assistance. The declaration covers jurisdictions with record and near-record snowfall that occurred on March 9. The state was previously declared for federal emergency assistance this year for record snow that fell in January and February.

After the President’s action, Brown designated the counties Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset and York eligible for federal funding to pay part of the cost for emergency protective measures undertaken as a result of the snowstorm.

Under the emergency declaration, FEMA will reimburse state and local government agencies for 75 percent of the total eligible costs of equipment, contracts and personnel overtime related to emergency services in dealing with the snow over a 72-hour period. These are the crucial hours when work crews clear snow from emergency routes and roads to critical facilities to permit the passage of emergency vehicles. Related emergency protective measures such as sanding and salting will also be eligible for reimbursement.

Brown named James Russo of FEMA to coordinate the federal assistance in the affected areas.