BOOTHBAY HARBOR, Maine — Jennie Plummer woke up at 3 a.m. to the sound of ocean water rushing into her restaurant, Brady’s. She said the surge happened fast, bringing seaweed and debris through the property.
"The water came so fast and up to the road and came rushing in. … There’s nothing you can do about mother nature, because it's going to do what it wants," Plummer said.
Brady’s is one of the only spots in Boothbay Harbor that is open year-round. According to Plummer, many of the local fishermen and waterfront workers depend on it.
Brady’s was closed Wednesday because of the storm, but inside were still the usual fishermen and families who live nearby. They were cleaning up what remained of the morning storm surge.
"It’s pretty overwhelming, and it’s great. … Very good," Plummer said.
What could take days of work turned to hours, according to Plummer, who said Brady's will be open Thursday.
According to Nick Upham, the public works director and fire chief for Boothbay Harbor, the region saw significant damage to piers and homes.
"A lot of piers have been destroyed. It’s something I haven’t seen here before," Upham said.
Upham said his day started at 4 a.m., with downed trees and powerlines.
A short drive around the surrounding peninsulas in Boothbay Harbor showed much of the same, including a boathouse outside a home that was crushed by the waves, ruined.
The homeowner said they got the home in 1978, and they’ve also never witnessed a storm surge from the ocean like this.
There were other reports of damage around the midcoast, such as Rockland, Camden, and Belfast.