Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

October 30, 2012

At least 88,000 without power as Maine officials assess storm damage

Flights from the Portland Jetport were still canceled this morning and the Amtrak Downeaster canceled all trains for the day.

By Staff Writers Dennis Hoey, David Hench, Tom Bell, Gillian Graham and Jessica Hall.

(Continued from page 3)

At the Portland Jetport, Candy and Don Gagnon of Gardiner, were on their way to Fort Myers, Florida for a vacation. They arrived two and half hours early, because they feared the jetport would be mobbed with people.

"We thought it might be crazy," Don Gagnon said. "It looks like a ghost town."

With no lines, and few airline staff even, there was little urgency. "Now we're going to go read," he said.

Paul Bradbury, director of the Portland International Jetport, said Monday the final flights, to Atlanta and Chicago, took off early Monday and no other flights would take place for the rest of the day. Most flights from 5:30 to 7 a.m. Tuesday had already been canceled.

"The aircraft will not be where they need to be, as the mid-Atlantic area is expected to have disruptions," Bradbury said.

He said a large percentage of air traffic in and out of Portland connects with airports in New York City and Washington, D.C., two of the areas hit hardest by Sandy.

Power lines and trees fell on roads throughout southern Maine, causing traffic delays, but no storm-related injuries were reported.

The state Department of Marine Resources closed clam flats along the coast as of midnight Monday, citing stormwater runoff from heavy rains that could pollute flats. State officials will evaluate the situation Tuesday before deciding whether to reopen clam flats.

COASTAL AREAS HIT BY SURGE

Coastal areas were hit particularly hard.

The town of Wells advised residents to evacuate homes and businesses in coastal and low-lying areas east of Route 1.

Town Manager Jon Carter said the evacuation was "extremely voluntary." Most people, he said, were choosing to stay.

"We're just trying to make people cognizant of the storm. If they are uncomfortable, they should think about beginning to move to a safer location," Carter said. "Most people are watching TV. When the power goes out, they'll lose their security blanket pretty quickly and things may change."

At Camp Ellis in Saco, the Kopenga family prepared to evacuate to stay with relatives in Biddeford. "I'm not taking any chances," said Denise Kopenga.

Dana and Marie Vigue decided to ride out the storm in the home they bought just two months ago. "Every once in a while, the house shakes," said Marie Vigue.

Waves crashed over stone and sand barriers and workers put down sandbags to prevent flooding in driveways.

Sightseers in Saco and Old Orchard Beach pulled their coats over their heads to shield themselves from stinging sand that the wind hurled at them.

"The noon high tide wasn't too damaging. To be honest, we had more trouble with (onlooker) traffic than nature," said Saco Police Chief Brad Paul. "Our shorefront people are pretty tough and they did a good job of preparing themselves."

The Brunswick, a bar in Old Orchard Beach, is usually closed on Mondays, but opened under pressure from regulars, said owner Tom LeCasse. About a dozen people sat around the bar Monday afternoon, watching the ocean and talking about storms of the past.

"I'm just hoping the awning doesn't come off," said Shannon Trudeau as The Brunswick's awning strained in the wind.

John Glass, Old Orchard Beach's fire chief, said The Pier, near the town's amusement park and downtown, was holding up well despite taking a pounding.

SOME SCHOOLS, COLLEGES CLOSE

With the weather deteriorating as the day went on, many schools announced early closures.

(Continued on page 5)

Tweet