On January 14th the storm ended leaving behind ice coated streets, cars, power lines, tree limbs and many houses without heat and power. It was beautiful and wonderful in a dangerous way. CMP estimated that the cost of repairs would be about a million dollars. The most dangerous part would be the next few weeks. A lot of the ice would melt and refreeze and melt again. Going outside was often dangerous and driving was not recommended because of tree branches falling. Day eight was a happy day for most families because of just the relief of the storm being over.
Written by Naomi Harrison
Ice storm, Academy Street Tree Damage, 1998
Hubbard Free Library
The Ice Storm Almanac
A Story For Every Town And City
In Hallowell a water main had broke and Hallowell was worried it would run out of drinking water.
A man from Newport died from carbon monoxide poisoning produced from his generator.
A man from Oakland who was struck by a tree while he was helping a neighbor clear debris from his yard and was killed.
A man who was elderly and was from Vassalboro died when he fell down some steps in the dark.
A man from Waterville died from carbon monoxide poisoning produced from his generator.
In Westbrook a man who threatened to hold the Central Maine Power employees hostage until they turned his power back on.
Louise Potter who spent nine days trying to run the Suburban Pines Motel in Windham without power while housing eight relatives, then when a guest was using a candle as a light, tripped over it and stared a fire that destroyed three rooms and the sprinkler system didn't stop it because the power was out.
The troubles of Maine
As the ice storm continued all of Maine sixteen counties were declared federal disaster areas.
Chainsaws became more hard to get for all the demands for them so that people could cut down the fallen trees.
The ice storm had damaged public utilities, forestry, private property, and industries and the damage amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Unfortunately schools, businesses, transportation systems, and the government were disrupted by the ice storm.
Written by Steven Guay and Dallis Heflin