It left destruction in its wake, with fallen trees and debris everywhere. People rushed to gas stations and grocery stores to prepare for the possibility of days without power, stocking up on necessities like hot coffee, propane, gasoline, and food that wouldn’t spoil easily.
Around 420,000 Mainers woke up to a power outage, the aftermath of wind gusts reaching up to 68 mph at Bangor International Airport. Bangor also saw record-breaking precipitation, with 2.52 inches of rain, and unusually warm temperatures, hitting 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
Despite the challenging conditions and uncertainty surrounding power restoration, the community came together to support each other during the storm and in preparation for the days ahead.
One individual, Maegan Alley, faced difficulty refueling her car due to closed gas stations caused by power outages. When she finally found one that was open, they only accepted cash, which she didn’t have. An anonymous stranger generously gave her $20 to buy gas so she could make it home.
The city of Bangor suffered extensive damage, with fallen branches and uprooted trees in nearly every corner. A close call occurred on Main Street, where a tree branch narrowly missed falling on the Paul Bunyan statue outside the Cross Insurance Center.
Nelson Savage, a long-time resident, described it as the worst storm he’d witnessed in his 57 years living near Montgomery and Norfolk streets. Despite the high winds taking down two trees he had planted with his son, his house, light pole, flag pole, stop sign, and fence miraculously escaped damage. He expressed his gratitude for this stroke of luck.
Adam Treat and Hadley Burrill, employees of Green Cuts Lawn Care and Services, worked diligently to remove fallen trees and reinstall Savage’s fence. They mentioned their surprise at the storm’s severity, especially considering that a projected hurricane in September had not been as strong.
Some residents, like Nick Oettinger of Winterport, anticipated power outages due to falling branches and had prepared with a gas stove and generator. They embraced the situation by watching movies with family and making plans for a game night.
Power restoration might take days for Bangor residents as Versant assesses the extensive damage across eastern and northern Maine, which includes broken utility poles and downed power lines. Their priority is repairing damage at substations before moving to distribution lines.
Jeannine Moran shopped for a portable kerosene heater at Lowe’s in Bangor, explaining that her own heater had stopped working. She had wisely kept one as a backup.
Bangor resident Michelle Buan and her 3-year-old son, Elliot Hanson, visited Target for last-minute Christmas gifts and a lantern after the storm caused a power outage in their Fairmount neighborhood. This delay may postpone their trip to Canada for the holidays by a day or so, but Buan hadn’t anticipated the storm’s severity.
Steven Crabtree lost power when a large tree uprooted and took down multiple power poles and lines along Grove Street. While a crew worked to remove the tree, he and his family were not expecting power to return soon. He recalled the 1998 storm that left thousands without power and coated everything in ice, resulting in school closures. Fortunately, the current storm had milder temperatures, so concerns about frozen pipes were less pressing.
Sarah Saltzman had a challenging journey home on Monday due to fallen trees blocking roads. She, along with Kathy Brouillette, is using a generator at home while they await power restoration.
Along the coast, areas like Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, and Southport faced widespread power outages. Residents lined up at gas stations to fill containers for their generators. Southport Memorial Library was one of the few places with power and internet, hosting an annual Holiday Open House for residents to gather, socialize, and use the internet.
In summary, a sudden storm wreaked havoc in Bangor and other coastal areas, leaving residents without power and facing significant challenges. However, the community’s resilience and mutual support were evident as they prepared for the difficult days ahead.
Reimagined By Webby
DISCLAIMER: Author is under many pen names. This article was rewritten based on these links: Mainers flock to gas stations and grocery stores after destructive storm catches many off guard (bangordailynews.com)
