FORT KENT – Bishop Richard J. Malone will visit today to inspect flood damage and offer solace to those hardest hit by it, church officials said Thursday.

Malone is expected to fly into the Northern Aroostook Regional Airport in Frenchville from Portland at about 11 a.m. He will visit the Fort Kent Town Office and an ecumenical food pantry downtown shortly thereafter.

After lunch downtown, Malone will visit two churches damaged by flooding, St. Louis Catholic Church on East Main Street at 1:45 p.m. and St. Joseph Church in Soldier Pond thereafter.

The flooding damage hit St. Louis Catholic Church the hardest, with officials estimating at least $1 million will be needed to make repairs. The repair efforts already have begun.

Malone will meet parishioners at both churches during his visits, including people seeking financial assistance with which to repair flood damage, officials said.