Ice Storm '98
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Ice Storm '98: When Maine Froze Over

Shortly before dawn on Jan. 8, the power went out. Freezing rain had been falling for hours but everyone expected systems would be online again in a few hours. We’d had ice storms before, but nothing like what was to be "The Great Ice Storm of ’98." It deceived people with its light rain and drizzle. This gentle rain clung to trees and utility lines rather than washing away as it would have in a downpour. Drizzle froze into dense ice, encasing trees, utility lines, radio towers and other tall objects with up to four inches of ice. It sheathed every blade of grass, limb and bush. Then, like rifle shots going off all around, the trees and branches started coming down.

Crack. Boom. These sounds reverberated in the quiet of night and day. Venturing outside was dangerous…huge limbs fell suddenly, bringing down power lines and poles. Roofs and automobiles were sitting ducks…branches and crashing chunks of ice wreaked havoc. Roads were clogged . Life as we knew it came to a standstill. We were in a time warp…basic activities that usually took a couple of hours took all day. Candles and lanterns started to flicker on about 4 p.m. when daylight began to fade. Over 300,000 people were without electricity for up to three weeks. No school for 1-2 weeks.

Many of us, in cities, were lucky enough to have woodstoves and gas hot water. We were warm and could cook on the stoves. We shared our bounty and warmth with neighbors. We became neighborhood shelters even as schools, hospitals and armories became public shelters. We talked and ate together by candlelight. No television, no problem. Battery-run radios were our link to the outside world. But many homes were bitter cold. People slept in their clothes, beds piled high with quilts. Generators fueled some homes for short periods of time so pipes wouldn’t freeze. But, with few exceptions, running water, electricity, telephones and heat weren’t to be had at Tripp Lake for almost three weeks.

We drove to our camp to check things out two days later. Trees and lines down everywhere. Unbelievable.

Brent Howe was plowing Jordan Shore Drive with his vehicle. Town crews hadn’t yet shown up. We were happy to lend Brent our propane heater for the duration…everyone did what they could to help. Living with relatives or neighbors, hauling water from the town hall, buying kerosene for heaters, became a way of life for year-round Lake dwellers. Gae Hinkley was walking her road with camera in hand photographing the scenes for posterity. Some of her handiwork is displayed on these pages. John Laskey said a generator, left by CMP to start things up, had been stolen on Megquire Hill Rd. Shirley Brackett of the Megquier Hill Market, worked hard to help others and keep her store open, but finally had to dwindle her hours of operation to a couple a day.

Kids loved it. Sledding, making snowmen, playing board games replaced modern day conveniences.

And slowly, with the help of many out-of-State utility companies, normalcy returned. These emergency personnel traveled from as far away as the Carolinas and were viewed as heroes. Al Gore turned up to inspect the damage first hand; there were photos of him lifting a power line and chipping wood without safety glasses. Oh, well. Ice-storm stories and editorials flooded the newspapers for months afterwards.

But here we are. Summer’s upon us and we look forward to better days after a bitter winter. Hope springs eternal as the trees renew themselves (with a little helpful pruning). Clean up and enjoy! ....Babs

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