AUGUSTA, Maine — One year ago today, severe flooding along the Kennebec River left catastrophic damage in its wake, destroying dozens of businesses. While some never reopened, others have worked tirelessly to rebuild.
Today, Cushnoc Brewing Co. is bustling with holiday shoppers, a stark contrast to the chaos that unfolded last December.
General Manager Casey Hynes recalled the shocking moment he learned floodwaters had invaded the building. Hynes said he woke up to missed calls around 3:00 a.m. and assumed there had been a mistake.
Hynes summarized the conversation.
"I said, I'm sure you weren't trying to call me at three in the morning. He says actually the water is already in the building. I'm thinking, what do you mean the water is already in the building? I had no idea," Hynes stated.
The brewery’s tasting room, located in the basement, bore the brunt of the flood damage. At one point, floodwaters nearly reached the ceiling. Luckily upstairs, where the main restaurant operates, damage was minimal.
"The water ended up coming within six inches of it being on the first floor," Hynes shared. "That's why when we say we were lucky, we were very lucky. It was all the way up to the top of the stairs."
Suddenly, dozens of businesses in the Kennebec River Valley had more than just waterfronts in common. They had disastrous damage.
Various state funding opportunities popped up after the flood. In 2024, $10 million was added to a Business Recovery and Resiliency Fund.
"Everybody along the Kennebec River corridor that was affected by the flooding last year, I think everybody that applied did get some help," he said.
Cushnoc was able to get $30,000 of that money. However, the money covered just over a third of what it cost Cushnoc to make repairs. The restaurant spent a total of $80,000.
Despite the financial burden, Hynes is thankful Cushnoc survived. Many other businesses affected by the flood were not as fortunate.
"There were businesses that flooded and never opened again. That happens, but we were lucky in that regard and I don't take that for granted," he said.
Cushnoc reopened its first floor just three days after the flood, but repairs to the basement took about a month. For Hynes, part of being situated along the Kennebec River means accepting the risks.
"It's a blessing and a curse being on a dynamic environment like a river," he added.
The flooding served as a wake-up call for local officials, who have since prioritized preparedness.
Representatives from Augusta’s Public Works Department said they are hopeful that a lot of the state funding has gone not just to repairs, but also towards long-term infrastructure improvements to minimize the impact of future flooding.
They also said they are improving notification systems to better warn businesses about future storms. Hynes said that could have made a difference for Cushnoc.
"There were alerts last year, but no one expected the rain up north to cause such dramatic flooding," Hynes said. "It was unfathomable how quickly it happened."
Hopefully, if there is a next time, luck won't be the only thing they can count on.
