When Severe weather comes, Mainers helps mainers

The relentless severe weather that ravaged Maine last December and January brought back memories of the Ice Storm of 1998. Scenes of extensive destruction of the built environment and disrupted livelihoods were a generation apart but the emotional toll on Maine’s residents was the same.

For some Age-Friendly Committees, the widespread damage served as inspiration to create or expand programs aimed at supporting all those affected by the storms.

With the power out for so many, warming centers were vital. Across the state, communities worked with their fire and recreation departments to open warming shelters - and provide phone charging - to residents. In Mount Vernon, the library was opened! The Frenchmen’s Bay library was open 247/7 and in Saco, the community center was available. The age-friendly teams in Chelsea, Dover-Foxcroft, Cumberland, Mount Vernon, Sorrento, Sullivan, Georgetown, and Saco provided more than warmth.  Food was shared, emotional support given, and referrals were made to resources to help residents during recovery. 

Now, some communities are planning to establish permanent centers. Chelsea took the initiative last year, developing a warming and cooling shelter in the town office. Saco is in the planning stages. The fire department in partnership with Age-Friendly Saco are collaborating to establish an accessible cooling and warming shelter. 

Of all the issues that these storms present, it is, perhaps, communication that was most critical. In 1998, landlines were most affected but in 2024, functioning cell phone towers became most important. Sullivan expanded access to high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the town, via cable/landline and satellite (StarLink). Others are also working on systems that will enable them to communicate with islands – the real ones or the ones created by a storm.

Age-Friendly Georgetown organized a call list (asking for preferred method of communication). Their volunteers will even make a house call! Nearly 500 residents have signed up! The team also organized a temporary home share program, which several people used during storms last winter.

In Sullivan, neighborhood FaceBook groups are very active, offering showers and assistance to neighbors; notifying each other of trees down, roads washed out, boats floating off docks & moorings; or responding to requests for help and/or equipment.

Winter safety kits are distributed in Bowdoinham and Berwick. These kits are very popular! The Berwick kits are rented from the library for a season and non-perishable items are returned for cleaning and refurbishment to be ready to borrow again the following winter. Bowdoinham’s kits include a NOAA weather radio with a flashlight and charger, shoe grippers, and other items to allow a person to stay in their home safely when they lose power. FREE 10-year lithium battery smoke/carbon monoxide detectors are given to residents in Sullivan.

Many, many communities help residents with sand buckets, and this was obviously needed this winter! Partnerships with the local public works department have been most successful. In Berwick, the town manager was seen filling buckets! 

None of this would be possible without the continued, dedicated efforts of volunteers. Some can shovel sand and others can make phone calls. Mainers continue to live our tradition of Mainer helping Mainer. 

Want to learn more about how your community can prepare? AARP is happy to mail free copies of the  AARP Disaster Resilience Tool Kit to share with your team.