Canton residents are concerned that they won’t be receiving any help from FEMA.
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer

CANTON – Rumors are flying around town that the 50 people affected by flooding won’t qualify for federal aid.

However, Administrative Assistant Kathy Hutchins and Fire Chief Wayne Dube said Friday that they have yet to hear a response from Federal Emergency Management Agency officials.

“They’re just rumors,” Hutchins said. “We haven’t received a determination yet from FEMA, so we’re just waiting like everyone else.”

The federal agency provides assistance for eligible individuals, families, farmers and businesses if they live in or own a business in a county declared a major disaster area.

According to its Web site, the agency also helps out if people incur sufficient property damage or loss and, depending on the type of assistance, do not have the insurance or resources to meet their needs.

At a meeting with Gov. John Baldacci at Camp Keyes in Augusta last week, Dube said officials didn’t think Canton, by itself, would qualify for federal aid, because it is a small-impact area.

That’s why state officials were going to pool damages from other flood-damaged towns, like Bethel, Rumford and Farmington, he said.

Dube said he has also talked with a FEMA official by phone last week, but wasn’t very encouraged.

“He didn’t come right out and say FEMA would help,” Dube added.

But then he was heartened to read an Associated Press article in Monday’s Sun Journal that stated Baldacci had asked officials to expedite a state application after learning that the recorded flood damage had exceeded the threshold required for requesting federal aid.

“Hopefully, we’re on the road to recovery, but I’m still waiting for a determination on whether the flood-damaged houses are livable or not,” Dube said.

Normally, he would rely on the town’s code enforcement officer to make that call, but the CEO resigned last month. That’s why Community Concepts Inc. provided the town with two of their code enforcement officers to do door-to-door inspections.

“I keep hearing that this and this place is condemned. We have five to six houses here that may be uninhabitable, but I’m not sure,” he added.

Dube has received permission from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to place two Dumpsters at the town dump for flood debris.

“Community Concepts has really been taking the ball and helping us, and the DEP has been fantastic. They’ve cleaned up the oil and hazards for us. We’ve had a lot of help come forward in volunteers, and state agencies have really showed a presence,” Dube said.

Starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, volunteers and Canton firefighters will start a roadside pickup of debris and trash from people affected by the flooding.

“We’ve got quite a bit of help lined up,” Dube said.

Of the town’s 330 houses, 40 to 45 were affected by the flood that occurred when a combination of ice jams and heavy snowfall and rains caused the Androscoggin River to rise more than 8 feet in 24 hours on Dec. 17 and 18.

“Some of them are the oldest houses and farmhouses in Canton, especially on School Street,” Dube said.

The river flooded basements, agricultural land and the village center.

But it wasn’t as bad as the flood of 1987, Dube said. During that crisis, the fire station itself had more than 30 inches of water inside.

“This time the water stopped at the door,” he added.

Aside from overtired firefighters, remaining troubles with some furnaces and more basements that need to be pumped out, Dube said he does sense an end coming.

“Our role has really slowed down, so we’re getting some well-deserved rest. I’ve got some really tired boys here. I’m hoping we can get back to a normal winter,” he added.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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