York County Has $2 Million in Damage from Spring Snowstorm

A limb is hung up on powerline three days after the storm.

Photo: Tammy Wells

By Tammy Wells, York County media specialist

Gov. Janet Mills has asked President Joe Biden to issue a major disaster declaration to help York and Cumberland counties recover from the April 3-4 snow and windstorm that resulted in significant damage across southern Maine.

In a May 2 letter to the president, Mills wrote that costs resulting from the two-day storm – including debris removal, damage to roads and bridges, and emergency protective measures – is expected to exceed $3.5 million in the two counties. York County Emergency Management Agency Director Art Cleaves estimated close to $2 million in damage within the county, much of it in tree debris.

In Waterboro alone, Town Manager Matt Bors estimated around $228,000 in costs to clean up road debris.

“Every road had trees down, every road has debris,” said Bors. “It would take months to clean up. We reached out to a contractor to help us.” He pointed out that the contractors have equipment and resources the town doesn’t.

Cleaves said at least five York County municipalities had more than $150,000 in costs associated with tree damage and emergency protective measures that had to be taken during the storm, with first responders out to assure safety.

Sanford received about 15 inches of heavy, wet snow from the storm, which dropped as much as 21 inches on a few communities farther inland. Out-of-state power crews were sheltered in schools and fire stations across the county because of a lack of available hotel rooms.

FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides supplemental grants so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding so governments can develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild in a way that reduces, or mitigates, future disaster losses in their communities.