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The state is requesting a federal disaster declaration for several counties following the December storm that caused flooding, road washouts, power outages and other damage.
Gov. Janet Mills is asking President Joe Biden to declare a disaster in seven counties: Knox, Oxford, Somerset, Waldo, Cumberland, Franklin and York, according to the governor’s office.
Last month, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials toured Maine to assess the damage caused by the Dec. 23-24 storm.
The powerful rain and wind storm knocked out electricity to more than 365,000 households and businesses statewide. Wind gusts reached 65 mph and storm surge combined with an astronomical high tide, which led to damage along the coast.
In addition, rapidly melting snow and warming temperatures caused inland flooding.
The storm resulted in more than $2.4 million in damage, according to the state, which prompted the federal inspection. In January, FEMA officials looked for damage to public infrastructure, such as bridges, culverts, roads, sea walls, public docks and light poles.
So far, the federal government has validated $3.28 million in public infrastructure damages.
That list includes Portland Head Light, the iconic symbol of Maine in Cape Elizabeth that sustained damage to its museum, including broken windows and doors and smashed fencing.
Following the inspection, FEMA validated damage assessments for Knox, Oxford, Somerset and Waldo counties, according to the governor’s office. Mills requested help for three other counties in anticipation that they too will meet the damage threshold.
Blue Ar Sapphire Crystal “All damaged infrastructure that has completed the validation process have been verified as not eligible for commercially available insurance coverage, and therefore, all repair costs must be covered by local government taxpayers if Federal assistance is not obtained,” Mills wrote to Biden.