Dry weather helps Maine flood recovery

Agency records damage from air in photographs

FORT KENT, Maine - Some roads remained impassable and bridges closed yesterday while damage assessments continued along the St. John River in northern Maine following last week's devastating spring flood.

"The focus has been shifted to recovery and getting people back into their homes," Lynette Miller, a spokeswoman for the Maine Emergency Management Agency, said as the river remained below flood stage.

Closed highways included portions of state Route 11, one of the region's major roads, said Darren Woods of the Aroostook Emergency Management Agency. While damage assessments were being done from the ground, warden pilots photographed 227 homes from the air that have been flooded.

Officials said more flood-damaged homes are expected to be catalogued in the days ahead.

"We're still sheltering people in three communities: Fort Kent, Van Buren, and Island Falls," said Woods.

Damage-assessment teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are expected to arrive early this week. Miller noted that other areas of Maine, including Penobscot County, have also sustained flood damage.

Maine's emergency management agency asked those whose homes or businesses were damaged to call 211 and report their losses. Robert McAleer, agency director, said the call is not an application for assistance, but to help officials assess what kinds of help might be available.

"We're asking people to report in, so that we know the extent of damages," said McAleer.

State Attorney General Steven Rowe, meanwhile, warned flood victims to be wary of scams. He said door-to-door salespeople hit the streets after natural disasters, offering cleanup and repair services. While many of those people are reputable, some are not.

Along the Canadian banks of the river, boil-water advisories were in effect in some New Brunswick communities, and motorists were being urged to watch for moose wandering on highways.

Canadian officials said water levels were on the decline in the upper reaches of the St. John, but the crest was moving downstream, causing headaches in such areas as Sheffield and Jemseg, south of Fredericton.

Dry, sunny weather was expected to continue throughout the weekend, giving waterlogged residents a bit of a break as they survey the damage to their properties.

The federal and provincial governments said disaster aid will be offered, but some residents worried there could be strings attached.

People living in towns in northeastern New Brunswick, including St. Leonard and Baker Brook, have been told to boil water because of contamination from the flood. Emergency officials said flooding near the Trans-Canada Highway at Jemseg was driving moose onto the road, and motorists were being urged to use extreme caution in the area.