The water is rising! (Penobscot, Alton: safe, property, area)

[msina]

FEMA is being called in to assess damages.

From MaineDOT:
Damage from heavy flooding has forced the closure of Route 11 from Patten to Knowles Corner in Moro Plantation. Flooding from the West Branch of the Pasadumkeag River damaged the bridge supports of Tucker Bridge, dropping the bridge seven inches. MaineDOT crews will construct a temporary bridge until permanent repairs can be made. MaineDOT crews are currently replacing culverts and repairing washouts on that section of Route 11 and will start construction of the bridge soon. If repairs go as planned, that section of Route 11 will reopen next weekend.

Currently, there are four bridges that are closed due to flood damage. They are the International Bridge in Fort Kent, Fish Bridge in Fort Kent, International Bridge in Van Buren and Tucker Bridge in Moro Plantation. These bridges will remain closed until they are inspected by MaineDOT engineers. Engineers need to wait for the waters to recede before they can inspect underwater bridge support systems, as well as the understories of these bridges.

MaineDOT reports 45 roads across the state affected or closed

A section of Route 1 between Fort Kent and Madawaska is CLOSED, detour map attached.


MEMA: News

[LaceyEx]

Thoughts and prayers to you all and please be safe.

[Maine Writer]

I'll be praying for Forest, B and their son. I hope the damage isn't too bad.

[7th generation]

I pray the damage is minimal Forest and all the critters are safe.

[mollysmiles]

praying and sending positive thoughts your way....

[Elcarim]

Here too! I keep thinking of all your hard work building your home and pens and raising healthy animals.....Positive thoughts headed your way!

[Maineah]

Hey forest I thought you retired from the Submarine service. Nostalgia is one thing but you don't need it following you home!

Good luck .....you're in my prayers too.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

19.07 feet and dropping just above Forest's place at 5:30 AM.

The Piscataquis River at Medford is dropping nicely.

USGS Real-Time Water Data for USGS 01034000 Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine

However, the Mattawamkeag River rose a foot in the last 24 hours and it's still rising. It's a tributary of the Penobscot River.

USGS Real-Time Water Data for USGS 01030500 Mattawamkeag River near Mattawamkeag, Maine

What all this means is that the Penobscot might not drop as fast as we would like. No rain is forecast for the next 5 days. That's the good news.

Think about this: Right now, the only north/south roads open between the Canadian border At Baileyville and LaGrange are Route 1 above Calais and Interstate 95. As is often quoted in Maine, "You can't get theah from heah."

[KiddinAroundFarm]

Quick update this morning:

Stopped by Forest's last night on our way into town to do some things... it was worse. The water was beyond the benches in the sunken living room, and only about 8 inches or so from reaching the main living space. They were eating supper when we arrived, and had turned the pumps off. There is nothing they can do but wait it out. The house is now surrounded on all 4 sides by water... they are walking on cement blocks to get in and out of the house. Hoping those stay above water.

Haven't spoken to them this morning, but hoping things haven't gotten worse overnight. The water had risen in their home about 2 feet in about 30 hours. It is worse than anything I've ever seen. I'm worried about them being able to get it taken care of financially... it's got to be rough. Not to mention the stress. They are taking it in stride, but I don't know how much of that is a front.

They are totally offline as of now, since they have shut down the majority of the circuits, and their phone lines are gone anyway. Last night when we left the water was creeping into the front door, since that area is also sunken down by about 8 inches. In other words, when you walk in you step in about 4 inches above ground level, then you have about 3 feet, then it steps up about 8 inches to the main floor level. The water was about 1 inch deep there in the entryway. Hoping like heck it's not worse this morning. Will call there in awhile after I'm sure they are up and moving, and get an update.

[KiddinAroundFarm]

Operation Great Chicken Rescue, Stage 1! Forest is seen here holding the Cochin chicken as he kayaks him to safety. This chicken has never let anyone get near it before now.. think it's grateful? lol This image is taken at the back of Forest's home. You can see one of the chicken tractors to the left there, to the right (can't see) is the house. Forest is just in front of the stationary chicken coop (seen at top right) where we found all the chickens roosting. That string line running behind his head there marks where the small creek runs through the property. It has disappeared, and the bridge over it is now floating somewhere down the Penobscot. [/IMG]