WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter yesterday, Senators Susan Collins, Angus King and Congressman Bruce Poliquin urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to consider Maine’s request to add Washington County to the disaster declared last month in Cumberland, York and Androscoggin counties. A disaster declaration would trigger the award of federal funds to help clean up and repair damage done by the extreme winter weather earlier this year.  

In the letter, Senators Collins, King and Congressman Poliquin wrote, “Washington County was hit especially hard by a string of snowstorms this winter but this request is for the ‘first’ big blizzard that occurred on January 26-28, 2015. The severity of this storm – the enormous amount of snowfall in a short time period – was really beyond the capabilities of the local municipalities.

“Washington County has faced a particularly difficult winter, starting off with this January blizzard, and we are hopeful that FEMA will be able to provide this assistance.”
 
Full text of the letter below:
 
April 16, 2015
 
The Honorable William C. Fugate
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
 
Dear Administrator Fugate:
               
      We are writing to urge Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to consider Maine’s request to add Washington County, Maine, to the disaster declared last month in Cumberland, York and Androscoggin counties.  Washington County was hit especially hard by a string of snowstorms this winter but this request is for the “first” big blizzard that occurred on January 26-28, 2015.
 
       A joint Federal, State, and local Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) was conducted in Washington County last week and it determined that sufficient financial damage exists to warrant the disaster declaration.  This PDA includes the Tribal lands of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at two reservations: Pleasant Point and Indian Township.  This PDA also concludes that Washington County is eligible for Snow Assistance due to documented near-record snowfall received in this storm. Eastport received 25.7” during the 3-day snow storm, which is within 90% of the historic 3-day record for Eastport of 29”.  Please see the attached letter from Bruce Fitzgerald, the Governor’s Authorized Representative, which provides more details from the PDA as well as a summary of the snowfall amounts in a few Washington County communities.
 
      This storm, which was accompanied by subzero temperatures, resulted in the closing of the airport in Eastport, suspension of local and interstate bus service, inability of hospital staff to report to work, school and college closures as well as all businesses for at least 2 days, closures of critical local routes, closure of Maine’s 24 hour 211 service due to inability of staff, and limited staff of public safety and public works operations.  The severity of this storm – the enormous amount of snowfall in a short time period – was really beyond the capabilities of the local municipalities.
 
      After this storm subsided, Washington County continued to face heavy snowfalls every few days.  These back-to-back storms required extraordinary measures to keep the roads, streets and bridges clear and to provide basic services to the residents of this rural county.  This has been the winter that seemed to never end.
 
      We appreciate your prompt attention to our request and ask that you give it every appropriate consideration.  Washington County has faced a particularly difficult winter, starting off with this January blizzard, and we are hopeful that FEMA will be able to provide this assistance.

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