AUGUSTA – Gov. John E. Baldacci today requested more federal assistance to help Penobscot County recover from flooding.

If approved, state and local governments would be eligible to receive federal funds to defray costs for flood response and for recovery of public infrastructure.

On May 9, President Bush signed a major disaster declaration for Aroostook County after record flooding struck the county. The federal government on May 14 approved public assistance for Aroostook, Knox, Lincoln, Piscataquis, Somerset and Waldo counties.

The federal government expanded the major disaster declaration May 16 to include individuals and businesses in Penobscot County.

“Penobscot County, like the six other Maine counties that have already been approved for this type of assistance, has incurred significant damage to roads, recreation facilities and other public infrastructure,” said Baldacci.

The flow on the East Branch of the Penobscot River near Grindstone during the flood was a 100- to 500-year event, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The concentration of damages in Penobscot County communities, according to preliminary damage assessments, is equivalent to that suffered in similar small towns in Aroostook County.

Individuals and business owners in Aroostook and Penobscot counties with flood damage should register with FEMA. To apply for assistance, call 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) or online at www.fema.gov.