Recovery center opens Disaster assistance available in Fort Kent

FORT KENT – While cleanup from recent flooding in the St. John Valley continues, visible signs of the recovery process are apparent and the potential for more relief for other areas affected by the flooding could be on the horizon.

State and federal emergency management officials and representatives of volunteer agencies and the U.S. Small Business Administration on Monday opened a Disaster Recovery Center at 416 West Main St. Officials from the various agencies will provide residents with information on disaster assistance programs and help them with options to reduce the effect of future disasters.

The SBA also will distribute information concerning disaster loans and offer help in completing disaster loan applications.

The temporary office is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday until further notice.

Meanwhile, members of the state’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday that the U.S.-Canada border station at Van Buren will reopen to passenger traffic at noon today.

The port was closed May 1 when floodwater from the St. John River damaged the building and called into question the stability of soil supporting the access road and plaza at the port.

The port will open only to passenger traffic until tests are completed to ensure the area can support commercial traffic.

Officials from Maine Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a press release Tuesday that a second Disaster Recovery Center would open today at the Van Buren Community Center, 130 Champlain St. It will be open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The facility will assist individuals and business owners affected by the flooding, according to the press release. Additional locations will be announced as sites are determined.

Those affected are encouraged to register for assistance by calling toll-free 800-621-FEMA or 800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week or register anytime at www.fema.gov.

Last week, President Bush issued a disaster declaration that frees up federal grants and low-interest loans for flood victims.

In his request for federal help, Gov. John Baldacci estimated that more than 200 homes were damaged and as many as 1,000 people were displaced from their homes.

On Friday evening, Baldacci submitted an addendum to the original federal disaster request to ask for Public Assistance for Aroostook, Knox, Lincoln, Piscataquis, Somerset and Waldo counties for the damage from the flooding, Baldacci spokesman David Farmer said Tuesday.

While the federal disaster declaration for Aroostook County will help individuals and businesses who have had damage to their homes and businesses, the Public Assistance – if granted – will make available additional funding to help other towns and counties affected by the flooding and repair infrastructure such as roads, culverts and bridges, according to Farmer.

Baldacci noted in his addendum that while snowmelt worsened the flooding in northern Maine, some of the heaviest rains fell in the central and midcoast sections of the state, washing out roads and damaging other public infrastructure.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe also sent a letter to Bush asking him to support Baldacci’s addendum.

“The recent flooding has resulted in severe damages to our roads, bridges and overall public infrastructure,” the senators said in a joint statement. “Due to the magnitude of this damage, our local and state repair and reconstruction efforts will reach their capacity unless we have federal public assistance support.”

“We are hopeful that the president will act expeditiously to provide this much needed aid and relief to Maine’s counties,” the senators said.

jlbdn@ainop.com

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