Ball fields, tennis courts and basketball courts are flooded Monday at Hippach Field off Main Street in Farmington. Parks and Recreation Department Director Matt Foster said Tuesday that there is a lot to clean up and much equipment that has been ruined. Billian Moments Photography drone image
FARMINGTON — The Maine Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday that the deadline for counties to submit damage assessments from the weekend flooding across western and central Maine is May 10.
“We will accept damage estimates after the deadline, however the goal is to be able to definitively state whether or not we meet the necessary county and state damage thresholds established for putting a request for federal assistance through for a Presidential Disaster Declaration as soon as possible,” said Anne Fuchs, director of mitigation, planning and recovery for the agency.
According to the agency’s State Disaster Recovery Team, Franklin County’s threshold is $129,606. Others are: Androscoggin, $489,012; Oxford, $254,219; Kennebec, $544,025; Somerset, $222,099; and Cumberland, about $1.33 million.
The state EMA reached out to Franklin County Emergency Management Agency Director Amanda Simoneau on Monday about the need to file damage assessment forms for public infrastructure such as roads and parks. The county had widespread damage from the heavy rain Sunday night into Monday. Totals across western Maine ranged from 3 to 5 inches.
Matt Foster, director of the Farmington’s Parks and Recreation Department, said Tuesday that workers were trying to put town property back together. The basketball and tennis courts and baseball fields at Hippach Field are closed due to flooding from the Sandy River.
The water was about 6 inches above the bottom of the fieldhouse, he said. Equipment, including a lawn mower were under water.
“The Kiddie Pool is full of junk,” Foster said, and the volleyball court lost some sand.
“We’re hoping the ball fields will be open sooner or later,” Foster said.
Some coaches have called and want to help us clean up, he said.
The Sandy River has receded but left significant damage, including to the University of Maine at Farmington’s Prescott Field Multi-Use Trails.
“The bridge on the Accessible Trail has floated about 20 feet away from its abutments, there are significant amounts of debris on the trail, there is lots of garbage throughout the area, and a layer of silt covers many of the trails, according to a post on UMF Prescott Field Multi-Use Trails’ Facebook page. “In addition, it is likely that the snowmobile used for grooming the ski trails in the winter has been ruined. If anyone would like to help with cleanup efforts, it would be greatly appreciated,” according to the post.
Most of Farmington’s roads have reopened and are passable, Fire Rescue Chief Tim “TD” Hardy said. His department responded to 16 weather-related incidents Monday, he said. They also responded to three flooded basements and a couple of calls for downed trees.
Firefighters had to have some cars moved to higher ground at the Park-N-Ride on Main Street, next to Walgreens, because the water was rising.
The Maine Department of Transportation crews were working on the roads Tuesday. Local town crews were also out, including Livermore Falls Public Works Department on Moose Hill Road.
MDOT spokesman Paul Merrill provided a list of state road closures in Region 3, which represents most of Oxford, Franklin and Somerset counties. The following were in effect as of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
• Route 156 — from Wilton to Weld.
• Route 142 — Phillips to Weld.
• Route 41 — Farmington to Mount Vernon.
• Route 140 — Jay.
• Route 219 — Hartford, Bear Pond Road.
• Route 120 — Mexico, closed from Black Ridge Road to Rumford town line.
• Route C413L/River Road — from Route 201A in Norridgewock to Norridgewock Avenue in Skowhegan.
• Route 154 — Brighton.
• Route 151 — Brighton.
• Route 156 — Cushman Road from Wilton to Weld.
• Route 234 — New Vineyard to Strong.
• Katie Crotch R0ad — New Portland.
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