CANTON – Emily Klingman was pretty impressed with the interest Gov. John Baldacci showed in her Wednesday morning.

He asked the 9-year-old flood victim how she was, and how things were going for her family. The Klingmans were among 50 families flooded out by last week’s storm. And they are among the handful of families who still haven’t been able to return home. There’s oily water in the basement, floating wood and a general mess. The family is staying at a nearby daycare center that is closed for the holiday vacation.

Baldacci, along with a half-dozen National guardsmen and Maine state troopers unloaded hundreds of toys, warm clothing and colorfully decorated bags of goodies and cans of sweet treats at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall.

The governor had visited the flooded town on Saturday and promised to do everything he could to help the people. A preliminary estimate of damage compiled by town officials and social service agencies put the figure at just over $2.1 million. Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were in town on Tuesday to conduct their own survey.

With threats of more flooding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the town’s emergency squad was gearing up for more work. Firefighter Steve Cole said a long, loud siren will be blown if the waters of the Androscoggin River start threatening nearby homes and other buildings.

According to authorities, no additional flooding occurred Thursday night.

Emily, along with her three brothers, Cameron, 12, Gabriel, 10, and Jeremiah, 7, all shook the governor’s hand and got his autograph. Their father, Philip Klingman, was pleased the governor took the time to help deliver the Christmas gifts. “It was really nice of him,” he said.

Sherri Cyr, her husband, Peter, and their three children, plus one on the way, will not be returning to the mobile home they rented on Cross Street. It was damaged beyond repair. Thanks to the neighboring Mark Blanchette family, the Cyr family, along with two other flooded-out families, had a warm place to stay when they were evacuated Thursday. Since then, the newcomers to the town have been staying at a mobile home owned by Steve and Lisa Wills, a place Cyr believes they can remain until they find other housing.

Cyr was loading up a bag of presents for her children at the VFW hall. “The Red Cross and the townspeople have been a big help,” she said. “I want to do something to give back.”

The Cyrs moved to Canton from Connecticut in July for a slower pace of life. She was impressed that the state’s governor would come to the small town.

“He’s nice. It’s good to see someone get out of his office and come to town,” she said.

The Klingman family isn’t sure when they can get back home. But Philip is pleased with the help provided.

“I’ve been blown away by all the people coming together,” he said.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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