A new law leverages $39 million to help Maine communities build resilience as climate experts say storms will become more impactful. Gov. Janet Mills signed the bipartisan bill last week; her office said the law will improve how Maine communities, homeowners, businesses and emergency responders can prepare for, and withstand, the effects of severe storms. 

Mills signed LD 1, "An Act to Increase Storm Preparedness for Maine's Communities, Homes and Infrastructure," April 22, Earth Day. According to the Governor’s Office, the bill is designed to enhance emergency planning, prepare communities and infrastructure for severe weather, and reduce long-term storm-related risks and costs. 

"Last year, my Administration and the Legislature made the largest investment in storm recovery in Maine history — but with our state's tight fiscal environment, and the current uncertainty around federal support for disaster recovery, LD 1 ensures that critical efforts to prepare for severe storms can continue,” Mills said in a release.  

LD 1 builds on $60 million approved last year to support the recovery and rebuilding following the severe storms of December 2023 and January 2024. In a public statement April 25, Mills said the earlier money “was only a down payment on the more critical work we have to do to prepare for storms ahead. Storms that will be more intense and more frequent.”  

Locally, the 2023 and 2024 storms caused around $900,000 of damage to municipal property in Boothbay, including the Ocean Point and King Phillips Trail areas, according to Town Manager Dan Bryer. Bryer said the town suspects there is more damage under the roads. 

Now, LD 1 will use $39 million to build storm resilience and improved recovery across Maine. The Governor's Office said LD 1 does not rely upon the state's general funds; instead, it uses surplus, fee-based funding through the Maine Bureau of Insurance and federal money.

It directs $15 million to launch the Home Resiliency Grant Program to help homeowners strengthen roofs or floodproof basements in their primary residence. The program is tiered to provide more support to lower-income homeowners. 

The bill also sets up $10 million to provide the state's required match for federal disaster recovery funds. It also includes $750,000 to establish a revolving loan fund for infrastructure projects and $800,000 to update emergency communications technology and early warning systems, both at Maine Emergency Management Agency. 

In addition, the bill directs $9 million to launch the Flood Ready Maine initiative to improve flood models, update flood maps and build regional capacity for floodplain management. The program will be run by a new State Resilience Office, established by the bill, within the Maine Office of Community Affairs. 

According to the governor's office, the bill was unanimously enacted by the Maine Senate, following bipartisan support in the House and unanimous support from the Legislature's Housing and Economic Development Committee; the bill was sponsored by Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland), House Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford), Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart (Aroostook) and House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor).