In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff, U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins today requested support for local efforts to repair Bethel Water District’s reservoir and watershed after each was severely damaged during last week’s storm.
Following is the full text of the letter.
Dear Secretary Chertoff,
We are writing to express our concern over the recent flooding in Bethel, Maine, that has caused severe damage to the district's water supply. Last week, Bethel experienced more than five inches of rain in two hours, destroying its ability to treat its water supply. Currently, local officials are bringing in 8000 gallons of water by truck to ensure that Bethel residents have water. Even this supply of water may be insufficient to meet Bethel’s needs if a serious fire emergency occurred.
We understand that Governor John Baldacci may submit a request to the President for federal assistance on behalf of the residents of Bethel. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already sent preliminary assessment teams to survey the damage, and we appreciate this rapid response by the Department. If the Governor submits a request for federal assistance to address this dire situation, we encourage your support for its rapid approval.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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