Final bridge closure from Maine’s December storm reopens

MAINE (WMTW) - In December, a storm brought massive flooding across Maine. During the storm and in its aftermath, roads and bridges sustained significant damage as power outages climbed to over 400,000.

On Wednesday, two months after the storm, the Maine Department of Transportation announced all roads and bridges have finally reopened.

The last closure: a bridge in Strong that reopened Tuesday afternoon.

When Gov. Janet Mills requested aid from the president, damage to public infrastructure was estimated to be $20 million.

President Joe Biden approved her request and declared Dec. 17-21 a major disaster.

The declaration used federal money and resources to help cover the cost of public infrastructure repairs in Androscoggin, Franklin, Hancock, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo and Washington counties.

In addition, federal funding was and is still being made available to affected people and families in the counties of Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford and Somerset.

Homeowners and renters affected by the storm from Dec. 17-21, 2023, have until April 1 to apply for disaster relief.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers the following ways to apply:

• Visit a Disaster Recover Center. To find a center close to you, go online to DRC Locator, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Ex: DRC 04074)
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Help is available in most languages. The Helpline
• is available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).
• Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish), available at Google Play or the Apple App Store.

There are four centers currently open. They are located at:

• University of Maine - Roberts Learning Center, 224 Main St., Farmington, ME
• 65 Central Ave., Lewiston, ME
• 150 River St., Rumford, ME
• 4 County Drive, Skowhegan, ME

Regular hours for the centers are daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.