We are FLOODING!!!!!(Revised with pictures)

[SwampDonkey]

It's raining here again, so I don't know what that means. Mars Hill I know is pretty much bare. Was in the woods Saturday and snow is in the tall woods, but pretty much bare in the second growth. Line fences are almost all bare now.

[pappy]

From abrother of a good friend...

More pics of the flood waters up here in Fort Kent , ME

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=37zlcz3v.c9dsy3b7&Uy=-adchsn&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=507053245232_161643401307&localeid=en_US

I gotta learn that short linky thingy ... 

[Bow Saw]

Pappy,
Thanks for the photo links! I like how they were captioned,
the aerial photos were are quite revealing. There's going to
be lots to clean up after that water recedes!  We heard on
the T.V. News that FEMA was going to give assistance. Let's
hope they step up to the plate. We'll count our blessings,
thankful that we're located on higher ground!
Mrs. BowSaw

[SwampDonkey]

Sure is sobering.

I heard our government will cover up to $100,000 for home owners with a $1000 deductible and up to $100,000 and 75% of goods in businesses. I hope they weed out the abusers, it happens every time there is relief money.

[pappy]

Ya welcome Mrs. Bow Saw...

Here's an email I got from a very good friend of ours from Ft. Kent ( he used to be town manager there)  after I sent him pics of our camp up on the St. Francis river that had 18" of heavy silted flood waters in it...

Stories like this don't make the news unfortunately Tim and Jen. As folks from this sacred ground called home, we try as we can to help ourselves and others in need in any way we can.
 
Ironically, it is that same sense of community that is getting in the way of getting the level of assistance this entire region desperately needs... a federal (SBA) bureaucrat from DC quipped in an email today that "only 4 people sought shelter" at the emergency center established at the UMFK gym (presumably to help determine the level of federal assistance that could be provided should there be a federal declaration) . Try as I might, my (mom's) anger got the better of me and I rifled back that the very criteria DC uses in determining "need" cannot be the standard they are to use in the Valley. I have seen with my own eyes what people have been doing to help friends and family with meeting housing, food, and clothing needs. As one of my sons and I were helping to remove soaked stuff from the church rectory Saturday, I was surprised to see a woman helping and her own home had been flooded the day before...!
 
Ok, I'm off the rant...for the moment. Thanks. I feel better.

[/color]

FEMA, USDA, and a bunch of other Gov agencies are in the area.. Red Cross has been right on the ball helping our friends down here in Soldier Pond as well as in the Fort Kent area ... Long line waits but worth it... Salvation Army has been around also... Man the next time I see a ringing bell ya can bet your boots there'll be a donation coming from this fellar... Really good folk...

The emergency people have been right on the ball!! They set up a command center over at the ski lodge ,,  where there's meals served three times a day for the flood victims etc.  and where all the assistance organizations have temp offices ... makes it easier for the displaced folks to help get their lives back together...

Mrs. Bow Saw how are our neighbors doing over in Van Buren ??
Looking forward to meeting you and Mr Bow Saw this spring when Moose Herder and Mrs MH come up to visit ... 

 

[Bow Saw]

Pappy,
     Looking forward to getting together with you guys again this summer!
Well would you believe I just happened to see some government
vehicles along the side of the road where some of the homes were
hardest hit, on my way from work today. A bunch of gov. officials
were holding their clipboards to write down the evidence they saw. 
Those people lost furnaces, appliances, & furniture due to water damage. 
Some  homes will be a real chore to bring back up to pare.  Most sought
refuge with relatives or friends.  Some had as many sump pumps as they
could find to keep up with in influx of water. A young couple with a school
age daughter purchased a little convenience store last year (it got flooded,
hardwood floor damage).  Their new home ..... still in the process of being
built .... got much water in the basement ..... pumps were trying to keep
up with it. To have one place to take care of & clean up is plenty when
disaster stikes, but in their case they have the store also! Their relatives
work at the store while the owners kept their regular jobs! Lots of folks went
to help them out.  People are still trying to clean it up around here. School was
open on Monday, school grounds are high enough in our area so no water
came into the school.  They had closed school because the roads were not
passable and to reduce the stress on the town septic system.
Mrs. BowSaw