Packing winds of up to 65 mph in some locations and dropping more than 14 inches of wet, heavy snow, the blizzard produced more than a foot of storm surge in some coastal areas. Some lost power as winds toppled trees onto utility lines.
Maine’s Emergency Management Agency’s Emeregncy Operations Center was activated as the storm slammed into the state, raising serious concerns about travel, power outages and bitterly cold temperatures as the storm moved out of the state.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage ordered all state officces closed Thursday and cautioned motorists to avoid driving if possible.
“I encourage Mainers to stay off the roads and avoid traveling unless it is an emergency,” LepAge said. “Avoiding unnecessary travel will keep accidents to a minimum and allow state and municipal road crews to safely go about their work.”
The storm’s strength amazed some state officials.
“The storm they are predicting is shaping up to be stronger than four-wheel drive, swifter than we can get ahead of, and higher than we can climb,” said Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap in cancelling all state driver license examinations scheduled for Thursday and Friday because of the weather.
All schools were closed Thursday in York County, as were all city and town offices. Many local buisnesses closed early to allow employees to get home safely from work. Shuttle Bus Zoom service also was closed Thursday, hampering commutes for many residents.
The Ice Rink at Waterhouse Center in Kennebunk was closed on Thursday and will have a late opening on Friday once the snow has been cleared.
Early on Thursday, emergency shelters and warming centers acorss the county were placed on standby in the event power outages forced residents from their homes.
The storm was expected to linger into Friday morning, prompting state MEMA officials to urge drivers to limit commutes until road surfaces clould be plowed.
“Blizzard conditions are expected to cause travel problems today into Friday morning,” said MEMA Acting Director Peter Rogers. “We’ve been planning the last few days with the key partners to ensure the safety of the people of Maine and address issues such as the cold temperatures and the high demand for heating fuel.”
In the days leading up to the storm, some York County heating oil and propane companies were receiving up to 400 calls from customers seeking deliveries as supplies dwindled or were hard to secure. Television stations in Portland were reporting that generators also were in short supply at retail businesses across the entire state.
A press release issued Wednesday by Central Maine Power said the energy provider was prepared to handle outages quickly. It asked that power outages be reported online https://m.cmpco.com/mt/ecmp.cmpco.com/WebOutage or by calling 800-696-1000.
Despite the storm’s devastation, some were happy to see the blizzard arrive in the state.
“With upwards of a foot of snow predicted for Maine by the end of the week, conditions will be epic this weekend at all Maine alpine and Nordic centers,” said Ski Maine’s executive director, Greg Sweetser.
— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at [email protected].
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