MOUNT DESERT, Dec. 10, 2024 - Hancock County officials are asking municipalities and other jurisdictions to compile images and estimates of damages from the storm yesterday and today for disaster aid relief.
County Emergency Manager Director Andrew Sankey stated in an email:
“If your jurisdiction has experienced damages as a result of today’s storm, please track and document expenses as best possible. Please retain any photographs/video of damages prior to repairs being made, along with receipts, invoices and related documentation.
“With the worst of today’s storm now past, we’ve shifted focus and efforts to the recovery process. We’ve numerous confirmed reports, based upon the many public safety calls for service, of the substantial and significant damages that have occurred in our communities. Many roads have been extensively damaged, along with several roadway seawalls, town docks and other municipal infrastructure components, many being either heavily damaged or fully destroyed.
“Of concern is the brevity of time between today’s storm and the next, forecasted at this time to arrive pre-dawn, Saturday morning, with the same, though not as severe, conditions expected.
“Damages from today’s storm must be accounted-for and considered separately from that which may potential occur on Saturday. As such, we ask that you please keep your records of damages and expenses separate. As a reminder, the eligibility threshold for Hancock County is $255,199; the aggregate for Maine is $2,506,704.56.
“Our goal is to see all costs relating to damages successfully captured, reported and submitted to MEMA/FEMA, with financial relief to our municipalities a certainty. In this, we ask that you please record damages and resultant costs as promptly as possible; the damage assessment form to be use for reporting repair costs can be found here: Public Infrastructure Initial Damage Assessment Form 5-17-23 (pdf) ; instructions for completing the form may be found here. We ask that you please complete this by 2 PM, Tuesday, 16 January, to provide for Monday’s holiday.
“Individuals that may have experienced damages to homes, vehicles, vessels and/or businesses need to consult with their private insurers. Those that have remaining needs are encouraged to submit these by contacting 211Maine for assistance intake and alignment with resources.
“As of 1:30 PM, there remains approximately 11,067 without electricity. With winds now diminished, crews are out safely conducting service restorations. Temperatures are expected to remain moderate, though we remain concerned for the safety of those that may need to resort to emergency light, heat and electricity generation until services are fully restored. If your jurisdiction establishes a municipal Lifeline Center following the storm, please report its facility name, address, date/s and hours open, primary contact information, and specific resources available such as charging stations, snacks, water, pet friendly, and ADA accessibility to: CenterShelter.OpenNotification@maine.gov; your center’s info will be shared with 211Maine for both public referrals. If you’ve residents in need of services beyond your jurisdiction’s resources, please refer individuals and households to 211Maine for assistance.
“Hancock EMCOMM: a supplemental storm net will take place at 1430PM on 146.910; please monitor the repeater for any emergency traffic as conditions allow.
“We’ll be monitoring storm consequences, ongoing restoration efforts, and aiding in damage assessments throughout. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’ve needs. Thank you.”
A parked 737 was pushed by wind into a jetway at the Portland airport, the Bangor Daily News reported.
“The storm, which moved into Maine overnight, brought winds gusting up to 60 mph in Greater Portland, along with snow and heavy rain. Winds have reached even higher speeds farther up the coast, including hurricane-force winds in Isle au Haut (95 mph) and Matinicus Rock (92 mph) in Knox County while gusts up to 75 mph were expected Down East,” the BDN reported.
This was an incredible storm with substantial impacts along the state's shores and more coming according to forecasters. Here in Lamoine, we've had young farmers' fields and greenhouses flooded, docks carried away, roads inundated. This is a vital moment, after the worst is dealt with, to more fully integrate sea-level rise into coastal planning - at levels from governmental and to inividual landowners and homeowners. The impact of every storm is worsened by the background rise and this will continue through this century even if the world gets serious about cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Lincoln, I'd love to talk with you about collaborating on a piece for both Quiet Side and my Sustain What project.
Oh damn that's a messed up road