Heavy rains cause major damage, road washouts

Contributed photo/Tammey Bartley-Scott
WATER FALLS — The Lycette Road in Amity completely washed out this weekend as major flooding took place. Similar damage occurred in Patten and Cary.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    PATTEN — The heavy rain that fell in southern Aroostook and northern Penobscot counties over the weekend has resulted in a number of roads being damaged or completely washed out.
    Patten Town Manager Terri Conklin said Tuesday that the damage totals were well over $300,000 and could approach $500,000. And things were probably going to get worse before they get better, Conklin said.
    “We are in a mess right now,” she said. “We received 8.05 inches of rain Saturday night through Sunday. It’s been devastating.”
    Conklin said she has contacted the Penobscot County Emergency Management Agency, the Maine Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance.
    Compounding the problem was heavy rain that began falling Monday night and continued throughout Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, a flood warning was issued for Patten and Houlton and other southern Aroostook communities as an additional 1.5 inches of rain was expected throughout the impacted area. Roads in Amity and Cary were also damaged by the storm.
    Posted on the NWS site Tuesday morning was the following statement, “The heavy rainfall will aggravate problems, especially in Patten, Shin Pond and Amity, which were hit very hard with flooding over the weekend. This heavy rainfall will lead to roads being washed out.”
    Washed out roads were something Patten residents were already dealing with Sunday. Conkin said two sections of the Waters Road, as well as portions of the Barleyville Road (located off the Waters Road) and the Clark Road all received extensive damage over the weekend.
Contributed photo/Beth Somers
WASHED OUT — The Waters Road in Patten sustained major damage from this weekend’s storm.
    “The rain came so quick,” Conklin said. “The brooks and rivers have receded some, but this rain is not helping.”
    A number of residents were impacted by the road washouts, but Conklin did not have an estimate on how many homes were affected by the flooding that has taken place. Some were without power Saturday evening into Sunday. Residents on the Frenchville Road have to make alternate travel plans because of the damage. They must now travel south on the dirt Frenchville Road and turn onto the Happy Corner Road in order to reach town, she said.
    “At least people can get out, which is a good thing, because working with FEMA and MEMA is not a fast process,” Conklin said. “We should know by the end of the week if FEMA is coming.”
    If the town wishes to receive FEMA funds to assist with the road repair, it must wait for FEMA to make a determination of the damage costs.
    Once that determination has been made, construction should be able to take place quickly, she said.
    This weekend’s flooding is not the first time FEMA has been contacted for help in Patten. A May 2008 storm also caused extensive damage, some of which occurred in the same spots as this weekend’s damage.
    “Right now, we just have to hang tight and see where we stand with FEMA and MEMA,” Conklin said. “If FEMA helps, it takes a little longer (to repair roads). Once all the assessing is done, we would then hire local contractors to do the work. If FEMA doesn’t come, how are we going to pay for this?”
    Conklin said any residents who have questions should call the town office at 528-2215 between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Contributed photo/Beth Somers
SINK HOLE — A Patten resident stands next to a section of road that was washed away this past weekend.