A mobile Disaster Recovery Center from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will visit two Penobscot County towns to help all county victims of the flooding that began late last month.

Milford will host the center today and Tuesday before it moves to East Millinocket to help northern county victims on Wednesday and Thursday, May 21 and 22. The center will return to Milford on May 23-24, East Millinocket on May 26-27, Milford on May 28-29, and East Millinocket on May 30-31, FEMA officials said.

The mobile center will stay at Milford Town Hall and the East Millinocket Public Safety Building from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for all visits to those towns. Penobscot County residents and small-business owners are encouraged to visit the center.

The mobile center will be staffed by recovery specialists, including representatives from FEMA, Maine Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration, to assist aid applicants.

It also was announced Friday that President Bush has granted a request to provide additional individual assistance to Penobscot County.

On May 9, Bush signed a major disaster declaration for Aroostook County as a result of the record flooding that struck The County two weeks ago. The federal government on May 14 approved public assistance covering Aroostook, Knox, Lincoln, Piscataquis, Somerset and Waldo counties.

In Penobscot County, flooding was largely confined to low-lying areas commonly hit when flooding occurs, such as parts of Howland, Mattawamkeag, Medway and Millinocket. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the flow on the East Branch of the Penobscot River near Grindstone during the flooding that began April 29 was a 100- to 500-year event.

The concentration of damage in the affected communities in Penobscot County, according to preliminary assessments, is equivalent to that seen in similar small towns in Aroostook County, according to a news release from U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both Maine Republicans.

The federal disaster declaration creates as much as $28,000 in grant funding per damaged or destroyed residence that qualifies, state officials have said. Aid can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover.

FEMA disaster assistance covers basic needs only. For those with insurance, the government may help pay for basic needs not covered by insurance.

People who think they might qualify for aid are encouraged to first register for assistance online at fema.gov or by calling toll-free 800-621-3362, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice. Those with speech or hearing impairment may call TTY 800-462-7585.

FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers in Fort Kent and Van Buren. They are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To be considered for disaster assistance in Aroostook County, victims are asked to call FEMA at 800-621-3362. For the location of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process, call the Small Business Administration Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.

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