Penobscot County put on disaster fund list

WASHINGTON – Penobscot County has received a disaster declaration for this spring’s flooding, making it eligible for federal assistance for public expenditures associated with the flood damages.

Gov. John Baldacci said he received word Friday afternoon that President Bush had added Penobscot County to the list of six other counties – Aroostook, Knox, Lincoln, Piscataquis, Somerset and Waldo – that had already been declared eligible for public assistance.

The flooding in late April and early May caused extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges and other property in many parts of northern, central and coastal Maine.

“Preliminary assessments have found that dozens of homes have been damaged or even destroyed as a result of the recent floods,” U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said in a joint statement. “Much like the surrounding region, Penobscot County needs as much support as we can provide and we applaud the President for acting expeditiously to ensure that the rebuilding process can move forward.”

The approval enables municipalities and the state to receive federal assistance in defraying costs incurred in responding to and recovering from the flooding that occurred earlier this month, Baldacci said Friday in a press release.

“I am pleased that towns hit hard by the clean-up related to the flooding will be able to receive this assistance from the federal government,” Baldacci said. “With the beginning of the summer tourist season, it’s important that the impacted communities can quickly recover.”

A public assistance briefing designed for public officials in Penobscot County seeking assistance to repair public property and infrastructure will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 29, at the meeting room at Milford Town Hall.