5 days 15 hours 12 min ago Northern Maine declared federal disaster area

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - President Bush declared a northern Maine
county a federal disaster on Friday after historic flooding that
destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes this month.

The declaration makes federal assistance available in Aroostook
County for temporary housing, repairs and disaster-related expenses
not covered by insurance or other assistance programs. Teams from
the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been in the state
assessing damage.

When he sought the federal declaration, Gov. John Baldacci
estimated that more than 200 homes were damaged and that as many as
1,000 people were displaced.

An aerial estimate indicated more than 400 structures were
probably damaged. The flood also damaged many roads and bridges.

"I have not ever seen such extraordinary damage to so many
homes, buildings and infrastructure in our state," said Sen. Susan
Collins, R-Maine.