BANGOR, Maine — As Wednesday’s storm charged through Maine, floodwaters filled sections of downtown Bangor.
The frozen Kenduskeag Stream nearly rose up to the footbridges crossing over it before releasing its ice into the Penobscot River in the early afternoon as the flood receded.
Water pooled quickly in several parking lots on either side of the stream, forcing drivers and their passengers to quickly seek dry ground.
“It's crazy to see this much water, and it's still raining,” Logan Violette, who was sitting in the passenger seat of a truck navigating its way out of the deluge, said. “The water over here is just over the banks of the river.”
Despite the sheer force of the wind and rain, infrastructure in Greater Bangor fared much better than during December’s storm.
For one, power outages were only a fraction of what they were last month, surprising utility providers.
“As the morning has gone and we get into the afternoon we have seen fewer outages than we predict.” Judy Long, a senior communications manager with Versant Power, said Wednesday.
At Bangor International Airport, the storm did little to halt operations.
“We've had some delays and a couple cancellations, but everything has been running fairly well,” Aimee Thibodeau, an airport representative, said.
Though flood waters have vanished and power is being rapidly restored, there are still several downed trees throughout Greater Bangor.