Maine Disaster Aid Approaches $5 Million for April Nor'easter 

Less than three weeks to register for assistance

Release Date: June 20, 2007
Release Number: 1691/93-018

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SCARBOROUGH, Maine - More than $4.9 million in assistance has been approved for Maine following the severe storms and flooding resulting from an April Nor'easter. Residents affected by the storm have less than three weeks to apply for assistance before the July 9 deadline.

Individuals in six Maine counties are eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance. Cumberland and York counties were first declared eligible to apply for aid on May 9. To date, 1,914 households in the two counties have registered (Cumberland - 999, York - 915). Eligibility for individual assistance was expanded to include Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and Oxford counties on May 24. An additional 354 households from those four counties have since applied bringing the total to 2,268 for the state.

FEMA has approved more than $1.47 million to 963 applicants for assistance to individuals and households. Housing Assistance covers rental assistance, temporary lodging, and grants for home repairs not covered by insurance. Other Needs Assistance covers personal property loss, medical or dental costs and other significant disaster-related expenses.

Public Assistance funds have also been made available to 13 Maine counties for infrastructure damage since President Bush first approved a federal disaster declaration on April 25. FEMA has obligated $1.74 million to local governments, state agencies and certain private nonprofits for costs incurred from emergency response or damage to public property.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved low-interest disaster loans totaling more than $1.72 million for homeowners, businesses and renters. To date, 1,737 home loan applications and 413 business loan applications have been issued.

Individuals, families and business owners in one of the six eligible counties who suffered losses between April 15- 23 as a result of this storm are encouraged to register for assistance by calling toll-free 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week or register online at www.fema.gov. The application deadline is July 9.

Last Modified: Friday, 22-Jun-2007 12:13:46