PORTLAND, Maine — President Barack Obama has declared two Maine counties as a major disaster areas, freeing up federal aid to people and households for damages caused severe storms and flooding between March 12 to April 1.
The storm pushed the rainfall total to a monthly record in Portland, closed a number of roads because of high waters and washed out a pond dam.
The White House said in a statement Thursday that Obama’s declaration makes money available on a cost-sharing basis to reimburse counties, towns, state agencies and nonprofit groups for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged in the counties of Hancock and York.
The White House says federal funding also is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.