SKOWHEGAN, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills is continuing to survey damage across the state left in the wake of a deadly storm that killed four people and the historic flooding that followed.
On Thursday, Mills visited an economic development project in Skowhegan hit particularly hard by the floodwaters that spilled over the Kennebec River.
As NEWS CENTER Maine reported Wednesday, a multimillion-dollar redevelopment project is underway to turn a former yarn mill into a facility that would house a hotel and about 40 apartment units, restaurant space, and more.
However, the floodwaters rose over the banks of the Kennebec River earlier this week, it washed into the Spinning Mill project, causing an estimated several million dollars in damage and setting the project back by about three months.
In addition to the damage caused by the floodwaters and subsequent ice, the water brought with it a thick layer of sediment that was left behind in its wake.
Despite the setback, the project manager and others on the team said they were determined to continue with the work and keep the project going.
“We’re not running from the water, and we’re not scared of it," Eric Pfeffer, the project manager, said.
Strangers and others in the community also want to see the project continue, according to the workers there, who said many have called and asked to help clean up the damage there.
Reporters huddled inside the building Thursday just before noon to stay warm, waiting for the governor to arrive. There, they noted seeing the waterline from the flooding reach partway up the walls and leftover mud and silt on the ground while the hum of excavators working to clear the storm debris droned outside.
When she arrived around noon, Mills wore sturdy LL Bean boots as she walked through the building before surveying the damage outside.
Project workers inside told Mills that at least $1 million worth of windows being stored in the lower level were destroyed before they were able to be installed.
"We'll do everything we can to help you move forward," Mills assured them. "This building is still sturdy, still standing, and this project is going to go forward."
Mills reiterated her ties to the community, noting she worked down the road on Water Street for about 14 years.
The governor acknowledged the dire need to stay safe and ongoing stress for the communities still struggling to regain power and utilities, but she came through with many messages of hope.
"I'm excited about the feeling of renewal," she said.
Zack Pike is the owner of Pike Project Development, which is the general contractor for the redevelopment project. Based out of Bangor, the business said they are dedicated to "respectfully restoring historic buildings and bringing new life to Maine communities," according to their website.
Pike spoke with reporters after the governor's visit, saying the primary focus is to make the building safe before resuming renovation work.
Heather Johnson, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic Community Development, grew up in Skowhegan and was in attendance for the governor's visit and still lives in the area.
"You can't rebuild these interesting old buildings," she said while standing in front of the Spinning Mill that was built nearly a century ago.
"Our goal is how to help businesses, this one as well as others, that have had significant damage from the storm," she said. "There's a lot of rebuilding work to be done [and we are] working to find supports."
Before she arrived at the building, Mills met with the director and deputy director of the Somerset County Emergency Management Agency, as well as the Skowhegan police chief to discuss response and recovery efforts, according to a news release from the governor's office.
She reinforced the work that local and state agencies are doing to aid the community as outages, road closures, and access to food and water remained difficult for many.
"Check on your neighbors," Mills stressed, while also restating that emergency resources were available to those who needed them.
As of Thursday, more than 100,000 Mainers were still without power. Mills said during the visit that about one-third of customers in Somerset County were still without power, adding crews were doing everything they could to restore power ahead of Christmas Day on Monday.
Road closures due to washouts and flooding as well as high winds on the first day have complicated restoration efforts. At its peak, customer outages neared 450,000. As floodwaters recede and roads begin to reopen, restoration numbers will continue to climb.
The U.S. Geological Survey said in a report that preliminary data suggests the ongoing flooding across Maine is "likely the second worst in the state's recorded history."
The USGS said ongoing efforts would continue to assess the extent of the flooding and provide timely reporting to emergency management services to protect people and properties.