City officials issued flood evacuation orders Tuesday afternoon for sections of Auburn and Lewiston due to an expected “record level” of the Androscoggin River on Wednesday.
A flood evacuation notice hangs Tuesday on the door of a home in Lewiston. The city issued the order due to the rising floodwaters of the Androscoggin River. The city opened a shelter for Lewiston and Auburn residents and their pets at the Ramada hotel at 490 Pleasant St. in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Evacuees and their pets from both cities are being housed overnight at the Ramada hotel at 490 Pleasant St. in Lewiston. Residents must have identification and a crate for pets.
If transportation to the shelter is needed, people are asked to call 207-333-6670. Residents who need help leaving their homes should call the nonemergency number for dispatch at 207-784-6421.
Lewiston issued its order around 1:45 p.m. and asked people to leave their homes no later than 5 p.m. Notices were posted on doors and police were canvassing neighborhoods to advise residents to leave.
The following streets and roads will be closed, and people living on them should leave, officials said.
• Switzerland Road at St. Peter’s Cemetery, 217 Switzerland Road, to Gulf Island Avenue
• Tall Pines Drive from North Woods to Strawberry Avenue.
• Oxford Street at Cedar Street.
• River Street at Oxford Street, Nel Court.
• Lincoln Drive.
• Lincoln Terrace.
• River Road at Ferry Road will have limited access.
• Lincoln Street from Cedar Street to South Avenue.
Motorists are asked not to drive in these areas.
Abdirahman Gebow, left, watches Tuesday as the Androscoggin River creeps closer to the apartment building on River Street in Lewiston where he lives. He and the residents at right were trying to figure out where to go after the city issued a flood evacuation order for parts of Lewiston, including River Street. The city opened a shelter for Lewiston and Auburn residents and their pets at the Ramada hotel at 490 Pleasant St. in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
Auburn issued its order just after 4:30 p.m. telling residents to expect “record level” cresting of the river by noon Wednesday. The city sent out the emergency alert via text.
“If you choose to remain in your home, you should monitor water levels on an ongoing basis as they may rise rapidly and unexpectedly, making it difficult or impossible for responders to reach you in an emergency,” the statement read.
Areas expected to be affected include low-lying parts of North River Road, Newbury Street and Riverside Drive.
“The city of Auburn strongly recommends evacuating these areas,” the alert reads. “Other localized flooding is also expected. Please limit unnecessary travel within the city.”
Shortly after the alert went out, Auburn advised of three locations where people can charge mobile devices:
• Norway Savings Bank Arena at 985 Turner St., until 10 p.m. Tuesday and starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
• Auburn Public Library at 49 Spring St., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.
• Auburn Senior Community Center at 48 Pettengill Park, 8 a.m. Wednesday.
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