FORT KENT, Maine — The National Weather Service indicates that numerous reports were pouring in Wednesday afternoon about flooding of many homes and camps along the Fish River chain of lakes in Aroostook County.
With additional rain of up to three quarters of an inch forecast for Wednesday night into Thursday, the weather service issued a flood warning at 2:15 p.m. for the Fish River and its chain of lakes, including Portage Lake, Saint Froid Lake, Eagle Lake, Square Lake, Cross Lake, and Long Lake.
“Some structures have flooding into the main floor, not just the basement,” the NWS Caribou office reported in its statement. “Also, the causeway on Long Lake to Pelletier Island is under six to eight inches of water with levels expected to rise.”
The additional precipitation was expected to cause water levels to rise “around six inches to a foot from what they are at present, leading to additional flooding,” according to the flood warning for northern and central Aroostook. The water is not expect to begin receding until late Thursday.
At 3 p.m., the Fish River at Fort Kent was at 11.73 feet, slightly above flood stage of 11 feet, causing minor flooding of some roads in Fort Kent and several structures up river in Soldier Pond. NWS officials anticipate the river to continue rising to about 12.7 feet during the day Thursday.
“While the forecast is for 12.7 feet, if a bit more rain falls this evening than expected, it is a real possibility that the Fish River could rise above 13 feet, which is major flood stage,” the NWS warned. “This would overtop the Main Street Bridge in Fort Kent and potentially impact additional areas in Fort Kent. The additional rise at Soldier Pond could impact other structures as well, such as on Church Street.”
Darren Woods, director of the Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency, said
Wednesday that it is possible that flooding from the Fish River could overtake Main Street in Fort Kent as it did during the historic flooding in 2008, but he hoped that would not happen.
“The possibility is there, it really depends on what we actually get for rain,” he said.
Meteorologists are having a hard time nailing down the amount of rain expected, but estimate between ½ to 2 inches through Friday, Woods said.
Ten years ago, 3 inches of rain and fast melting snow from a record snowfall that winter caused the St. John River to rise 8.1 feet in less than 24 hours and surge to 29.9 feet by evening on April 30. The Fish River crested at a record 13.9 feet, according to the NWS.
The two raging rivers displaced hundreds of residents and caused millions of dollars of damage to buildings and infrastructure in 2008.
Woods said Wednesday that the Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency has been preparing for various contingencies.
“We’ve been planning all week, talking to all of the communities and our partner agencies to do what we can to help people be ready to get out of the way,” Woods said. “People need to remember if the water comes there is nothing any of us can do to stop it. We just need to keep watching it and be prepared to get out of the way. Hopefully we’re planning for an event that won’t come, but we just want people to be prepared.”
St. Agatha Town Manager Aubrey Michaud said Wednesday that, besides the issues with Pelletier Island where 15-20 year-round residents live, water was pouring into basements of other homes located near Long Lake. She said many residents have water pumps continuously running.
“I’m not aware of any structural damage due to high waters, to homes or businesses though,” she said early Wednesday.
Wallagrass Town Manager Lana Voisine has been keeping a close eye on the Fish River which continues to flood the Soldier Pond area of that community. Soldier Pond Road has been shut down since Monday and all residents of Bouchard Street evacuated their homes.
“Ice chunks are coming from Eagle Lake,” Voisine said Wednesday. “With the rain coming I’ve warned everyone who has stayed in their homes to be prepared.
“We’re expecting the worst but hoping for the best,” she said.
