Maine River Crests After Record High - 1,000 Residents Evacuated, Flooding Homes

[Breeze54]

Maine River Crests After Record High

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/16129595/detail.html

- 1,000 Residents Evacuated, Flooding Homes

POSTED: 7:05 am EDT May 2, 2008

FORT KENT, Maine -- Christine Chasse shoveled copious amounts of snow this winter. She was still using her shovel Thursday, but this time to move water out of her garage while cleaning up from flooding that turned her front yard into a lake and her basement into a swimming pool.

Northern Maine Flooding


Behind her home, the rain-swollen St. John River raged. Next door, the flooded Fish River was largely kept at bay by a hastily built earthen berm. The wooden stairs to her basement bobbed up and down in waters that nearly reached the first-floor living area.

Facing a big mess, Chasse realized she was lucky.

Nearby, the landmark St. Louis Catholic Church that Chasse attends was flooded, along with more than 100 homes and businesses, after the St. John River hit a record high and overflowed its banks. Police Chief Kenneth Michaud said it could be this weekend before people are allowed to return to their flooded residences.

"I'm very sad to see the church under water, and I realize there are some people worse off than us," Chasse said as she used the shovel to move water and debris from her property.

Emergency management officials echoed her view: Despite record high waters, the town's levee held and the International Bridge withstood the flood. A failure of either the levee or a collapse of the bridge would have sent even more water pouring into the downtown.

As it was, the flooding was bad enough.

About 1,000 residents were evacuated and as many as 140 homes were flooded. Driving around Aroostook County was a challenge because so many bridges and roads were closed.

The St. John peaked early Thursday at 30.14 feet - about 5 feet above flood stage - at Fort Kent before the water slowly began to recede, said Greg Stewart of the U.S. Geological Survey. The river's previous record crest of 27.3 feet was set in 1979.

Forecasters predicted the river would fall below flood stage on Friday morning. But residents won't be allowed to return to their homes near Main Street until the water recedes enough for the Army Corps of Engineers to inspect the levee and the Department of Transportation to inspect the International Bridge, Michaud said.

The spring flooding realized the worst fears of emergency management officials after a winter in which some parts of northern Maine saw more than 200 inches of snow. Despite the melting snow, it seemed that the region had dodged heavy floods until 3 to 4 inches of rain fell on Tuesday.

more....

[fight4my3sons]

1. My husband and I were watching this on the news

last night.

[Breeze54]

2. I saw it on the news too but I can't seem

to find any pictures or any calls for assistance.

I think that's unusual. Maybe FEMA is on the job?

I hope so!!

[fight4my3sons]

4. we watch

Channel 6 out of Portland Maine usually. Last night we were watching. Maybe there is something there?

[fight4my3sons]

5. There are pictures at this link

To the right of the story. Channel 8 News out of Portland, Maine

http://www.wmtw.com/news/16079042/detail.html?rss=port&psp=news

[Breeze54]

6. Thanks! I'll take a look.

:hi:

[rox63]

3. My best friend's brother lives up in Fort Kent, ME

Thanks for the heads-up. Emailing this story to her now...

[Breeze54]

7. I hope the friend is OK!

You're welcome. I posted a pic in the OP, courtesy of the other poster above.

That looks really bad!