Governor Baldacci Requests Disaster Declaration for Patriot's Day Storm
April 18, 2007
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 York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, Washington, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Oxford, Franklin and Somerset Counties in the State of Maine as a result of winter weather conditions, severe rain storms, astronomical high tides, storm surge, inland and coastal flooding and high winds which impacted the State April 13, 2007 and continuing.
In response to the situation, I have taken appropriate action under State law and directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan on Friday, April 13, 2007 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 12:01 am on April 16, 2007. That State of Emergency remains in effect.
Maine has been a leader in hazard mitigation planning. The State has a FEMA-approved Standard State Mitigation Plan in place. Maine was recently honored by FEMA, Region One for being the first state in New England to complete hazard mitigation plans for all counties.
Maine is being impacted by a powerful storm that has battered our coastline for three days and caused damages far inland. Our estimates are now in excess of $12 million in infrastructure damage, and we have reports of several hundred homes damaged by flooding and winds. These figures are increasing incrementally as more communities report their damages. Four deaths have so far been attributed to the storm. Today, I surveyed some of the most heavily affected areas by air and can personally certify the devastating damage our state has suffered.
On April 17, 2007, I requested a joint Federal/State Preliminary Damage Assessment. That assessment is underway. 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, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation and Small Business Administration disaster loans. I intend to implement the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide.
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 temporary repair assistance to local governments by the Maine Department of Transportation; road repair by the Maine Turnpike Authority and local governments; 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 and Marine Resources; access and traffic control by the Maine National Guard; public health and mental health activities by the Department of Health and Human Services; environmental cleanup by the Department of Environmental Protection; coordination with electrical, telecommunications and natural gas utilities by the Public Utilities Commission; debris clearance and 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 affected County emergency management agencies; 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,
Governor John E. Baldacci
