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April 03, 2008
Snow = Disaster?
I know Aroostook County has received a lot of snow this year, but is it really a "disaster area?"
GOV. JOHN BALDACCI WANTS the federal government to declare a disaster in Aroostook County following the late March blizzard that capped a season of record snowfall.Maybe we should wait until some major damage is actually done before we start throwing federal money at the problem.The blizzard of March 20 pushed Caribou's seasonal snowfall to 192 inches of snow, breaking the previous record of 181 inches in 1955. More snow is predicted for this weekend.
Posted by slublog at April 3, 2008 10:00 AM
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I did a quick analysis of Maine's FEMA history (http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters_state.fema?id=23). Of 31 declared major emergencies, 25 (81%) involved flooding. Of these 25 flood disasters, 11 (44%) came in April and May, 264% more than should be expected in a two-month period. Something tells me Baldacci should wait until all this melts to bother the Feds.
Posted by: MainiacJoe at April 3, 2008 12:36 PM
On the other hand, a bit of dynamite at the right time and place to break up an ice jam or two, and a few sandbags at vulnerable stretches of riverbanks, might actually save more money than they cost.
Posted by: Gerald Childers at April 3, 2008 08:38 PM