Maine eligible for funds

AUGUSTA – Maine government expenses incurred as a result of assisting more than 150 evacuees from the area struck by Hurricane Katrina will be reimbursed as the result of federal action taken Tuesday.

President Bush declared an emergency exists in Maine and ordered federal aid to supplement state efforts for providing emergency assistance beginning Aug. 29.

The funding will be used for emergency protective measures undertaken to save lives and protect public health and safety. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 100 percent federal funding.

Art Cleaves, director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, said Tuesday the state could recover expenses associated with salary costs for redirecting his employees to coordinate planning for responding to the needs of evacuees.