PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Severe weather and the consequences of those emergencies are common realities for people throughout Aroostook County. But Darren Woods, director of the Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency, believes there is always a way businesses can be prepared to help employees and surrounding communities stay safe.
During a Wednesday, Jan. 30, presentation at Cafe Sorpreso in Presque Isle, as part of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues Breakfast Series, Woods spoke to business professionals on a variety of emergencies that could have negative impacts on local operations.
Although large-scale disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes are far less common in northern Maine than in other parts of the country, he said, northern Maine still sees its fair share of winter storms, power outages and seasonal floods that can have devastating impacts.
“The amount of powers outages we’ve seen just in the last year alone has increased,” Woods said. “Many of us rely on heating sources such as wood pellet stoves because they’re cheaper and easier to use than stacking wood. But a pellet stove still runs on electricity. So what do you do when the power goes out and you have no heat?”
To combat that potential issue, Woods recommends that businesses invest in backup generators that can restore electricity during an outage and prevent businesses from losing products and profits. He especially encourages gas stations and hotels to purchase generators, as those businesses could serve people seeking out food, water or shelter during an outage.
Currently there are only 11 gas stations and six hotels throughout Aroostook County that have backup generators, according to Aroostook EMA data. The local American Red Cross chapter also has seven locations that they have permission to use as emergency shelters but the need for more such shelters is always there, Woods noted.
Darren Woods (right), director of Aroostook Emergency Management Agency, speaks to business professionals about emergency prepardness during a presentation at Cafe Sorpreso in Presque Isle on Wednesday. (Melissa Lizotte)
“Every community should have an emergency plan and specific shelter site just in case something happens,” Woods said. “Suppose we were to lose power for a whole week in February? People would need a place to take a shower, have some food and get information on what’s happening.”
Power outages are just one of the many emergencies that severe seasonal weather could bring about. The large amount of snowfall that Aroostook County receives yearly causes travel hazards and snow removal concerns that affect when employees arrive and how much time businesses invest in maintaining safe walkways and parking lots.
According to the National Weather Service in Caribou, 104.4 inches of snow has fallen on Aroostook County from the first snowfall on Oct. 18, 2018 to the present. That total is 6.9 inches above the previous record of 97.6 inches during the 2007-2008, making this season the snowiest one to date. The snow trends have made Woods concerned about potential flooding this spring.
“It wasn’t just Fort Kent that was flooded in 2008,” Woods said, referring to the record snowpack that caused widespread flooding in Fort Kent and surrounding communities that year. “Aroostook EMA assisted with emergency response for 13 communities during that period.”
Woods urged business teams to evaluate their flood insurance coverage and look at backup plans in case flood waters reached their establishments and they were unable to operate for an extended period of time. He said that numerous areas of Aroostook County have the potential to feel the effects of spring flooding.
“The name Presque Isle means ‘almost an island’ because we’re surrounded by water,” Woods said, mainly referring to the Aroostook River, which crosses through the city as well as several different areas. “Businesses should consider where they’re located when making an emergency flood plan.”
Jessica O’Leary, safety and security manager for Pineland Farms, Inc. in Mars Hill, was one of many business professionals who attended Wood’s presentation on Wednesday. She said she plans to use much of the information that he shared as part of strengthening the company’s emergency response plan.
“I was surprised to learn just how devastating a power outage could be to businesses. It’s good for us to look at how we would continue to operate if a long-term outage happened and how we could help our employees,” O’Leary said.
Before concluding, Woods encouraged everyone to follow Aroostook EMA on Facebook for daily updates on winter storms and other seasonal emergencies that can arise.
