Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Maine Communities & Businesses for Extreme Weather

January 10, 2025

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

Well, following those horrible storms last year that devastated communities across the State of Maine, my administration and the legislature made the largest investment in storm relief in the state's history. That funding was significant, but it was only a down payment, really, on the critical work Maine has to do to prepare for the storms we know are coming -- more intense and more frequent in the years ahead.

To start that work, I created last year the Maine Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commission, and I asked the experts on that commission to develop a long term preparedness plan for our state. After traveling the state for months and talking directly with municipal leaders and county emergency management people and engineers and the public at large in places as varied as Stonington, Machias, Old Orchard, Rumford, Mexico, Jay, Caribou and Rockland, hearing about the problems, responding to, and preparing for extreme weather events, that commission released its interim report in November.

A final report from the commission is due in May, but based on those interim recommendations, this week, I introduced major bipartisan legislation to strengthen the ability of Maine communities, homeowners, businesses, and emergency responders to prepare for future severe storms. L.D. 1, An Act to Increase Storm Preparedness for Maine's Communities, Homes and Infrastructure, is sponsored by Senate President Mattie Daughtry, House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart, and House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham. I thank them for their support.

Using some Federal funding and some existing state funds through the Bureau of Insurance, not General Funds, this bipartisan legislation creates four key initiatives:

First, it establishes the Home Resiliency Program that will provide grants of up to $15,000 to homeowners to make improvements to their homes that will better prepare them to withstand storms. Improvements like, for example, minimizing roof damage, fixing roofs, and basement flooding prevention.

Second, the legislation enhances resources for the Maine Emergency Management Agency, which we know as MEMA, which is managing more Federally-declared disasters than at any other time in our state's history. The bill increases state disaster relief and preparedness funds through non-general funds, which will also secure matching federal funds, and invests in improved emergency communications systems, very vital communication systems, and staff training and additional emergency staff.

Third, the legislation establishes a new State Resilience Office to reduce flood and storm damage, to protect public and private infrastructure, and to support public safety.

And last, this legislation creates the Flood-Ready Maine Program to modernize data on flood risk in Maine and make that data easily accessible online. The program will improve communications between communities, businesses, and residents about flood risks and make flood insurance more accessible.

L.D. 1 will enhance emergency planning at all levels and prepare communities and infrastructure for severe weather, and reduce storm-related risks and expenses for Maine homeowners and businesses. I thank Senate and House Democratic and Republican leadership for their support of this important legislation, which will allow Maine communities, homeowners, businesses, and emergency response leaders to prepare for the extreme weather events of the future and make Maine a safer and better prepared place to live.

I look forward to signing L.D. 1 into law. This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.