Maine Declares State of Emergency Due to Cold

A sever cold snap in the Northeast states has prompted Maine Governor John Baldacci to declare a state of emergency in order to temporarily waive transportation rules and allow fuel oil delivery drivers to work additional hours. Maine's population, especially the low income, relies heavily on fuel oil for heating.

Baldacci's declaration warned that "many [fuel delivery] drivers in the state are approaching their federal limit on hours of operation, and may have to cease deliveries."

Jo-Ann Choate, state LIHEAP director, noted that because of freezing pipes, low-income residents have been forced to leave their homes and move into homeless shelters. She also said that the LIHEAP benefit of $458 is less than a full tank of oil, which costs $468 and may go up as supplies decrease and the cold weather continues. Temperatures in Maine fell to as low as minus 31 on January 15 - with wind chills of minus 54.

In the meantime, Congressman Edward Markey of Massachusetts is asking members of Congress, particularly those from the Northeast and Midwest, to sign onto a letter asking President Bush to take action to address "the threat that a combination of extremely cold weather and rising prices pose for Northeastern and Midwestern energy consumers."

Source: Economic Opportunity Report, Campaign for Home Energy Assistance

Page Last Updated: December 7, 2005