ALFRED — Upwards of 50 roads were closed in York County this morning due to heavy rains that began Saturday night, county emergency management officials reported.
On River Road in North Berwick, a motorist had to be rescued after his car was nearly submerged while he was driving over a barricaded roadway, said York County Emergency Management Director Bob Bohlmann. The driver was unhurt in the mishap.
The National Weather Service Office in Gray this morning reported rainfall totals approaching eight inches in some county locations from the storm. The weather service posted flood warnings in effect until 5:30 p.m. today for York County, and Strafford and Rockingham counties in New Hampshire.
Many of the closed roadways are in southern York County ”“ in Eliot, York, South Berwick and Kittery. In Wells, dispatchers reported road closures on Route 1 at Route 9, Bald Hill at High Pine, the 500 block of Wire Road and several small streets near the ocean. Some towns in interior sections were hard hit as well.
Lebanon EMA Director Tom Cravens said this morning many town roads were closed as of 8:30 a.m., including Heath, Depot, Lower Cross, Union School, Shapleigh, Jim Grant, Chick, Upper Guinea, Lower Guinea near Sawtelle, North Rochester near Barley, Upper Middle and T.M. Wentworth roads. Hubbard Road was also closed on the Berwick side.
Cravens stressed the need for drivers to obey closed road signs and barricades.
“We have people driving through at 40 mph,” said Cravens. “When we close off a road, it’s not just because of water running over it,” he said, pointing out that the roadway itself may be undermined.
“The ground is saturated from the last time,” said Cravens, referring to a wind-driven rainstorm two weeks ago.
In Sanford, no roads were closed as of 9 a.m., but some were barricaded, a signal for caution, noted assistant public works director Donna Gray. She said all culverts are at capacity, however.
“We’re watching them,” Gray said.
At York County EMA, Bohlmann said there were about 800 storm-related power outages, but electricity was being restored quickly. Shelters were not required and as of this morning no injuries were reported.
Bohlmann opened the county’s emergency operations center at about 10 p.m. Sunday and will remain open as needed.
He too, cautioned drivers.
“Motorists are cautioned to obey the markings posted, even if it requires a detour,” he said in a prepared statement. “They are posted for your safety.”
— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
