Gallery

Storm Damages Scenic Views
Shelter Views
Crew Pictures

El Nino arrives in Denmark, Maine!

Wednesday, January 7^th the storms began in our area and coated the town with ice and snow. The village through the West Denmark area suffered the least damages.  Some homes did not have backup heat. Several families found refuge with friends and neighbors.

Mountain Road was described as "It looked like a nuclear bomb struck it." Route 117 to Bridgton, Fessenden Hill, Hio Ridge Road, Sebago Road, Berry Road, Bush Row Road, and the roads connecting off these roads were covered with trees, branches, and power lines.

Neighbors, who had a backup heat source and/or a generator that allowed some homes to have heat and water, let their friends and neighbors share in the warmth and water for showers and laundry.

Friday and Saturday families began to volunteer in the community to help with the cleanup of our town. Many people worked on the roads sanding, plowing, and clearing debris. Others visited homes with generators and helped people warm their homes and recharge their freezers.

A shelter was created at the municipal building where families and repair crews ate meals and tried to keep warm. Many community members spent their days manning the shelter and cooking meals for members of the community. Meals were delivered to those who could not find their way to the shelter. Little did these volunteers realize that their efforts would continue for more than 10 days. Townspeople and utility crews worked together, so that everyone could return to a normal life as quickly as possible.

Electricity was returned to the village and West Denmark Road Tuesday morning, January 13, 1998. Schools in SAD #72 opened Wednesday and Thursday, with bus service for Denmark village only on Thursday. School was cancelled Friday as we received more snow. Friday evening more homes in other areas of town were reconnected with electricity. Each following day more homes were hooked-up with power.

On these pages are a gallery of photos taken by members of the community. The beauty of the scenery betrays the hardships of no electricity, no heat, and no water in their homes.