WHEREAS, Saturday, January 27, 2024 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which marks the seventy-ninth anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp; and

WHEREAS, this is a day of remembrance for the six million Jews who were murdered by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945; and

WHEREAS, on this anniversary, the State of Maine recommits itself to combating the global rise in anti-Semitism; and

This past December, as you all know, a powerful rain and wind storm brought severe flooding, power outages, and extensive damage to central and western Maine.

Then, in January, two more powerful storms brought rain, wind, and flooding that once again ravaged our state, damaging coastal communities and working waterfronts, and altered the very landscape of our iconic coast.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

So, this week, I wrote a letter to President Biden, and I formally requested a Major Disaster Declaration to help ten Maine counties recover from the severe December storm, which caused an estimated $20 million in public infrastructure damage alone. Most of that damage was in Androscoggin, Franklin, Hancock, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington Counties.

So, if the President approves my request, we can then use federal funding to repair damaged roads and bridges, as well as public buildings and other public infrastructure in those counties.

In addition to public assistance, I also asked for help for individual families hit hardest by the storm. In my letter, I told President Biden that families who are trying to recover from the December storm are having a hard time finding local, skilled contractors and affordable housing alternatives while they make repairs. And they’re struggling to pay the high cost of replacing major household items or removing mold caused by the flooding.

So, to help those families, I asked the President to make assistance available to eligible people who experienced property damage in Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset Counties – because those are the counties the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, verified as reaching the federal government’s threshold for individual assistance.

In addition to my letter to President Biden requesting both public and private assistance for December’s storm, I also requested FEMA conduct a damage assessment of last week’s storms which brought historic flooding to the Maine coast, destroying homes, roads, buildings, docks, and iconic landmarks.

If FEMA agrees that the costs resulting from the back-to-back storms in January are beyond our ability to address, as they did after the December storm, I will formally request another Major Disaster Declaration from President Biden.

Look, if you experienced storm or flood damage in these most recent storms, I ask you to report it by dialing 2-1-1 or visit my Administration’s Flood Resources & Assistance Hub at maine.gov/governor/mills.

Your information will help us as we prepare to seek the maximum amount of federal assistance available. My Administration is working closely with local officials to assess and repair damage as quickly as possible and to seek any and all available Federal support.

Unfortunately, extreme weather events like these are becoming more and more common, and our state is certainly not immune.

By burning fossil fuels – like gasoline, oil, or natural gas – we are pumping harmful greenhouses gases into our environment. Those gases in turn envelop our planet like a blanket, trapping in heat and raising global temperatures.

In Maine, we are feeling the effects of climate change in many ways — the Gulf of Maine is getting warmer, faster than any other ocean waters on the planet. Storms are wilder, becoming more powerful and more frequent. They pick up energy over the ocean before they slam into our coast. Our growing seasons are more unpredictable, threatened by both droughts and downpours. Our farmers, our fishermen, and our coastal families are all feeling the impacts of climate change.

Over the past five years, we’ve been working on addressing the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing significant resources to make our communities more resilient.

So, in the wake of these storms, and in anticipation of those to come, we must have a serious conversation as a state about what we can all do to make sure our state and communities are prepared for the impact of these weather events and climate change in general.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

Powerful rain, wind, and flooding have once again ravaged our state – this time our small communities up and down the coast.

The damage we are seeing is devastating to working waterfronts, small businesses, public roadways. And more storms ahead could make matters worse. 

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills. Thank you for listening.

Following the severe rain, wind, and tidal flooding that battered Maine Tuesday night into Wednesday, I have declared a State of Civil Emergency for all of Maine’s coastal counties. That declaration formalizes our all-hands-on-deck response and it ensures that every State resource will be available to towns across Maine, and it puts Maine in the best position to seek Federal disaster support in the coming weeks.

The Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and the Maine Forest Service are working with local partners to assess the damage caused by the storm along the coast.

That review is one of the first steps we have to take on the way to requesting a Major Disaster Declaration from the President of the United States. If that Declaration is granted by President Biden, it will make available critical Federal financial assistance to help our state recover from this storm.

Maine people can help us document the damage from the storm. So, if you’re experiencing property damage because of the storm, please report it by calling 2-1-1.

Sharing your information will help us estimate the full impact of the storm and help us request the maximum amount of Federal aid available to support our recovery.

Now, it’s important to know that reporting damage is not the same as applying for personal assistance or reimbursement, or filing an insurance claim, and I certainly encourage you also to file claims with your homeowner’s insurance or your auto insurance if you’re experiencing property damage.

My Administration has also created a central online resource that contains up-to-date information from the Maine Bureau of Insurance on flooding and storm-related insurance claims, as well as directions on how to report storm damage to the state, and up-to-date road closures, and information about how to safely deal with tree debris, for instance. That website is maine.gov/governor/mills/flood -- all lowercase.

My Administration will do what we can to support the swift recovery of coastal communities that were hit so hard by the storm this week. And we will closely monitor and prepare for another storm forecast for this weekend.

As always, I strongly urge Maine people to follow the direction of local emergency officials to protect themselves and their property to the greatest extent possible. Please remember, it is never safe to walk through flowing water, or to drive through flooded areas, or to drive around road barriers – and never, never touch a downed wire.

Extreme weather events are becoming more and more common, and our state is not immune. That’s why, as part of our Climate Action Plan, we want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we’re investing significant resources to make our communities more resilient to the effects of climate change and the intensity of these recent storms.

In the wake of these storms, and in anticipation of those to come, it’s time for us all to recognize as a state that we must prepare for the impacts of these weather events and other effects of climate change.

We need to build back our working waterfronts in the short-term and preserve our dunes and beaches and keep all people safe.

In the meantime, thank you for listening, and please stay safe this weekend.  This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has experienced a severe winter storm with heavy rains and high winds causing widespread coastal flooding and damage to infrastructure including to roads, utilities, piers, wharves, floats, boathouses, vessels, fishing infrastructure, businesses and residences;

WHEREAS, extensive road damage, including to Maine’s federal-aid highways, caused by high winds and flooding will require both immediate and on-going road repairs, constituting an emergency within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. §§ 120(e) and 125; and

WHEREAS, it is critical that all Maine students are afforded the opportunity to receive a quality education in our public schools; and

WHEREAS, a strong and effective public school system is essential for Maine's workforce and ensures that we continue to make social, technological, and scientific advancements; and

From day one, my Administration has been guided by the belief that to grow our economy, we have to invest in our greatest asset: the people of Maine.

Recently, we got some new data that shows that our strategy is working.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

The United States Bureau of Economic Analysis released data recently that shows that Maine is leading New England in economic growth and that we’ve experienced stronger growth in recent years than even larger states like New York and California.

Before I took office, Maine was frequently at the bottom of the list of states regarding economic growth.

This improvement didn’t happen by accident. For the last five years now, my Administration has been making investments in Maine people – investments that have helped create robust economic growth.

In my first year in office, I released a strategic economic development plan – the first one in decades –  to improve the lives of Maine people and families, to support business, to create good-paying jobs, and to build an economy that is poised for future prosperity.

Just a few months later, of course, the pandemic brought the global economy to a halt. During that very rough time, I brought together economists, and business leaders, and citizens to recommend ways that we could sustain our economy in the short term and strengthen it in the long term to make us less vulnerable to future crises.

Based on those expert recommendations by hundreds of people and experts, we created and released the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan. That plan had three goals: first to achieve immediate economic recovery from the pandemic; second, achieving long-term economic growth for our state; and thirdly, to revitalize our infrastructure.

Then, when Maine was fortunate to receive nearly $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds from President Biden and Congress, we were ready. More quickly than most states in the nation, we deployed those federal funds across the state of Maine to put our Jobs & Recovery Plan into action.

Since the Jobs & Recovery Plan went into law October 18, 2021, we’ve delivered $175 million to thousands of Maine businesses, we’ve created workforce opportunities for 25,000 people, and invested in more than 400 infrastructure projects statewide to bolster broadband, childcare, energy efficiency and weatherization, and housing.

These are all critical things we need to support our people and to bolster our economy.

Now, don’t get me wrong — we still have challenges, including a lack of affordable housing. And we are working on all of that right now, but this recent federal GDP data is really an encouraging sign that our investments in Maine people are working.

I am excited about the direction we are heading. Small businesses are expanding their operations; people are moving here to work and raise their families; graduates are staying in Maine to pursue rewarding, life-long careers here at home — our economy, and our state, are getting stronger every day.

We’ll continue to work hard to address the challenges we face to ensure that Maine remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that may threaten the health of our citizens and their families; and

WHEREAS, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States; and

WHEREAS, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers; and

WHEREAS, the National Academy of Sciences estimates that radon is responsible for up to 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year; and

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening on the eve of a great new year.

To support response and recovery efforts following the severe wind and rain storm and the flooding of last week, I have directed my Administration to seek any and all Federal financial assistance that might be available to us.

Following this directive, the Maine Emergency Management Agency has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency — or FEMA — to send Federal officials to Maine as soon as possible to review and validate the damage assessments gathered by our local officials.

That review is one of the first steps we have to take on the road to requesting a Major Disaster Declaration from the President of the United States. If that Declaration is granted by President Biden, it will unlock critical Federal financial assistance to help our state recover from this storm.

Well, I’m pleased to say that, earlier this week, FEMA approved our request. So, in the coming days, Federal officials will begin reviewing and validating damage reports from local officials.

Given the extent of the damage, it is likely that this process will take some time, but Maine people can help us document the damage from this storm. If you experienced property damage, please report it by calling 2-1-1.

Sharing your information will help us estimate the full impact of the storm and help us request the maximum amount of Federal aid available to support the recovery.

Now, it’s important to know that reporting damage is not the same as applying for personal assistance or reimbursement, or filing an insurance claim, and I still encourage you to file claims with your homeowners insurance or your auto insurance if you experienced that kind of property damage.

My Administration also has created a central online resource that contains information from the Maine Bureau of Insurance about flood and storm-related insurance claims. You can find those links on our new Maine Flood Resources and Assistance Hub at maine.gov/governor/mills/flood. That’s maine.gov/governor/mills/flood.

That website also has up-to-date information from the Maine Bureau of Insurance on flooding and storm-related insurance claims, directions on how to report storm damage to the state, and up-to-date road closures, and other information about how to safely deal with tree debris, for instance. Again, that website is maine.gov/governor/mills/flood -- all lowercase.

My Administration will continue to do all we can to support the swift recovery of Maine communities that have been hit hardest by last week’s storm. For example, hundreds of dedicated and experienced highway workers from the Department of Transportation are hard at it repairing and rebuilding State-owned roads and bridges right now, as quickly as possible.

Despite this recent wind and rain events, I hope that you are able to close out this year and celebrate the beginning of the new year with cherished friends and family. If you are missing a loved one at your table this year, please know that I am holding you in my heart this holiday season.

To all Maine people, I wish you all the very best in the new year.

This is Governor Janet Mills, thank you for the honor of serving as your governor, and thank you for listening.

Since the beginning of this week’s severe storm, my Administration has been working around the clock, with local public officials, county emergency management people, and CMP and Versant to clear debris from the roads, assess and repair damage caused by flood waters, and restore power to Maine people as soon as possible.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

I have declared a State of Civil Emergency for most Maine counties in order to mobilize all of the State of Maine’s resources to help with response and recovery efforts and to position the State of Maine to seek Federal disaster support in the coming weeks.

This declaration of civil emergency formalizes our all-hands-on-deck response and ensures that every State resource is available to towns across Maine.

I have also signed a proclamation that allows fuel delivery personnel to drive additional hours to make sure that heating fuel is delivered in a timely fashion.

Maine Emergency Management Agency is working with county emergency management officials to assess the damage to our infrastructure.

The Maine Department of Transportation is likewise working with the Federal Highway Administration to assess road damage.

Rest assured, we will seek any and all Federal assistance and support to help Maine people recover from this storm.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services will be providing information about how SNAP recipients can replace the food that might be lost because of power outages, flooding, or other storm-related damage.

That Department has continued to issue WIC benefits for parents, and it is working with water districts to check on public drinking water systems and it is reaching out to all Long Term Care facilities to make sure residents and staff are safe. 

As crews assess the damage and make repairs, Maine people can do their part by being vigilant and very cautious – please stay away from flooded areas, including roadways that have water on them, and heed the advice of your county emergency officials.

If you need emergency assistance, please dial 911. If you need non-emergency assistance, like information about where to find a warming center or charging center, call 211, or text your zip code to 898-211.

Look, Maine people are no strangers to hard times. We’ve been through a lot – from a pandemic, to a turbulent economy, to the horrific tragedy in Lewiston, and now, this devastating storm, which has already claimed the lives of several Maine people. It cannot be ignored that this storm came just days before Christmas, at a time that is supposed to be marked by love and joy and kindness.

For many Maine people right now, the holiday will be more difficult as they deal with the loss of their homes or vehicles or damage to their property. And if you’re in that situation this Christmas Eve, know that I am thinking of you, and that I will do everything I can to support you.

I hope that you do find comfort, and joy, and solace with family, friends, and loved ones this holiday, during a difficult time.

I know that in Maine, especially in the Lewiston area, the burdens we’re carrying feel heavy now, but we will carry that burden together.

I’m often reminded of our communal strength that we see in the acts of kindness, bravery, and compassion. First responders risking their own lives to rescue a stranded motorist; the community centers keeping their doors open to keep families warm and charge cell phones; and the linemen who come from all over who are doing their very best to bring the lights back on tonight – the unshakeable spirit and unbreakable strength of Maine people, the very best of our state.

We have challenging days ahead, but we will get through this. Please keep the faith and, please, stay safe.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has experienced a severe storm with heavy rains and unusually high winds causing widespread power outages, property damage, and road damage, including to many of the State’s federal-aid highways; and

WHEREAS, extensive road damage caused by high winds and flooding will require both immediate and on-going road repairs, constituting an emergency within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. §§ 120(e) and 125; and