SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Businesses along the coast are grappling with the aftermath of back-to-back storms that hit earlier this month.
The devastation has left some establishments still closed for repairs, facing unprecedented challenges in their recovery efforts.
More than three weeks ago, Saltwater Grill took a severe hit from the storms. Water infiltrated the restaurant, causing extensive damage to the floors and forcing the boiler to shut down, resulting in a loss of heat.
"We had decided to shut down Saturday because the parking lot gets water, in even not-so-big storms," Jill Moses, owner of the Saltwater Grill said. "So, to be safe, we decided to shut down Saturday, knowing high tide is here. I was at home with my kids and couldn't get out here safely, so two of our managers came here and then called me, saying water was coming into the building."
Despite owning the property since January 2020, this storm presented challenges Moses had not encountered before.
The closure forced Saltwater Grill to send employees home while bringing in contractors to assess and repair the damages.
"It's been very sad and emotional, especially for our staff," Moses said.
While businesses like Saltwater Grill grapple with recovery, the City of South Portland is actively planning cleanup efforts in areas like Bug Light Park and Willard Beach.
However, challenges can arise when dealing with damaged fishing shacks, as the city faces limitations imposed by being in a Shoreland Zone and a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Zone.
Saltwater Grill remains optimistic about reopening and is concentrated on rebuilding.
"We're just focused on getting back open, getting our staff back into the building, and our customers back," Moses said.
Saltwater Grill aims to reopen next Monday, and the city of South Portland is organizing a storm damage workshop in February to discuss plans for moving forward and addressing the challenges posed by recent storms.