OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine — Since December, storms along the Maine coast and inland areas have destroyed docks, damaged homes and roads, and washed away protective dunes.
On Friday, members of a new commission examining how the state responds to storms visited some hard-hit areas in York County.
Old Orchard Beach Fire Chief John Gilboy showed members of the Maine Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commission where storms over the past year scoured away more than five feet of sand under the pier, damaging pilings and wiping out dunes along the beach.
The structure has been repaired in time for the tourist season. However, damage estimates in the seaside community are believed to be more than 5 million dollars. Dan Tishman, the commission's co-chair, said scenes like these are eye-opening.
"I heard that there was a lot of significant damage; this is my first time down here since the storm. It's going to be a lot of work," Tishman said.
Commission members also saw a culvert on New Salt Road in Ocean Park, which crosses over Goose Fair Brook. This is one of the community's hardest-hit areas. It was rebuilt with state funds after being washed out during storms in January.
Old Orchard Beach Town Manager Diana Asanza said boulders were added to make it more resilient, and a new tide gate monitors water capacity and volume.
"This is what we are studying to ensure that the operation of the tide gate is appropriate, again to mitigate flooding in this area," Asanza explained.
The group includes people with engineering, insurance, and construction experience who will help towns and cities identify long-term investments to make infrastructure less vulnerable to storms worsening with climate change.
"Now we are seeing this flooding more often," Asanza said.
"They are looking to the commission and the state about how they spend their precious dollars for permanent fixes," Tishman said earnestly.
From here, commission members are hitting the road, heading to Down East Maine, possibly the Machias area, to do a listening session and to tour the damage. Then, they will head to the western part of our state to see damaged infrastructure and roads.
The panel will craft the state's first long-term infrastructure plan and present it to Gov. Mills by next May.