PHIPPSBURG

The town of Phippsburg has enacted an evacuation plan for Popham Beach areas near Route 209, parts of which have eroded to within 65 feet of the Atlantic Ocean — a loss of 30 to 40 feet since last August, or 5 to 6 feet per month.

The plan, approved last month by selectmen, is the result of several months of work by the town, county and municipal Emergency Management

Agency directors.

The threat of a washed-out Route 209 might not be immediate, they say.

Then again, it could be one big storm away.

“It’s becoming a concern because it’s eroding quicker now,” Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency Director Misty Mixon said. “If we get a really bad storm, it could wash that road out and we could have to evacuate people.”

Mixon and Phippsburg Selectman Gary Read worked on the plan at the behest of the state Department of Transportation.

Next up, Mixon said, money is needed to mitigate the erosion.

“It’s a state road,” she said, “and the responsibility, really, is with the state DOT. They asked us to put this plan in place. Now that the plan is done, we’re setting up a meeting with DOT to review it.”

According to the plan’s details, the seaward edge of the frontal dune along East Beach has moved 100 to 120 feet landward from July 2009 to August 2012.

That’s an erosion rate of 30 to 40 feet per year. Erosions in the winter of 2012-13 only accelerated, eating away at low-lying back dunes.

“We’re monitoring about 1,000 feet along that stretch of road daily and weekly,” Mixon said. “We’ll send letters to those in the risk area and tell them of the importance of signing up for CodeRED, the mass notification system. Disabled people are a concern.”

The town’s Emergency Operations Center at the fire station is the coordinating agency for all activity in connection with the evacuation plan. The Board of Selectmen or their designees is responsible for execution of the plan, and for minimizing the disaster effects.

Should an erosion emergency occur — when the river or ocean is 25 to 45 feet from Route 209 — CodeRED and Phippsburg Cable Channel will send out notifications. Evacuation would be arranged along with temporary shelter, food and medication.

If a flood is occurring, the evacuation plan kicks in.

All persons in the affected areas will be accounted for and emergency equipment, fuel and medical supplies will be moved to higher ground.

According to plan, early evacuation would take place so traffic can flow out from Route 209. The DOT could provide emergency repair to the road for late evacuees. Secondary evacuation routes are via the Coast Guard, or another designated watercraft at the wharf by Fort Popham.

By foot or recreational vehicle, people could use the Perkins Farm Trail to a bus, which would transport them to a temporary shelter.

“The first option (in an emergency) is to rebuild the road,” Mixon said. “We could use the Perkins Farm Trail to evacuate. If we can’t get emergency services to those who choose to stay, we could use the Coast Guard.”

Phippsburg Elementary School, Bath Middle School, Morse High School, the Topsham American Red Cross building and Mt. Ararat High School would be used as American Red Cross shelters in an evacuation.

Phippsburg evacuation plan

¦ THE TOWN OF Phippsburg’s plan for evacuation of Popham Beach provides:

— A means to utilize all available resources to mitigate or prevent potential emergencies or disasters whenever possible.

— Dealing efficiently with the effects of flooding and potential loss of a part of Route 209 and/or evacuation of that area if needed.

— Responding to save lives and protect property, and promoting a means to recover rapidly from such an event.