Maine, Rhode Island Granted Disaster Aid for February Storm

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Maine will be eligible for federal help to cover the costs of a blizzard that hit in early February.

President Barack Obama on Monday approved Gov. Paul LePage’s request for a disaster declaration.

The declaration means Androscoggin, Cumberland, Knox, and York counties are eligible for assistance to cover snow removal work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

The storm on Feb. 8-9 caused coastal flood damage and costly snow removal that LePage says is estimated to be more than $3.5 million.

LePage says FEMA will reimburse municipalities and state agencies for 75 percent of their costs for at least 48 hours of snow removal, as well as the costs related to emergency protective measures and any infrastructure damage from the storm.

President Obama has also granted a major disaster declaration for Rhode Island to provide federal aid for state and local recovery efforts from the snowstorm of Feb. 8-9.

The declaration announced last Friday by the White House makes federal funding available to state and local governments, and to certain private nonprofits on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and repair and replacement of facilities damaged in Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence and Washington counties.

Federal funding is also available to the state and eligible local governments for a 48-hour incident period in Kent, Providence, and Washington counties.

Aid is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.