The city of Lewiston is ordering residents of several streets to evacuate from this afternoon through midday tomorrow.
Under the flood evacuation order, which begins no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, the city is closing several roads: Oxford Street at Cedar Street; River Street at Oxford Street; Nel Court; Lincoln Drive; Lincoln Terrace; and Switzerland at St. Peter's Cemetery, from 217 Switzerland Rd. to Gulf Island Avenue.
Lincoln Street from Cedar Street to South Avenue will also be closed, and River Road at Ferry Road will have limited access.
The city says that anyone who needs shelter can go to the cafeteria at Connors Elementary School. And anyone who needs help with evacuating can call 784-6421.
In neighboring Auburn, officials have strongly recommended evacuating North River Road, Newbury Street, and Riverside Drive, among other low-lying areas.
And the city of Augusta has additionally closed Calumet Bridge, Water Street, Bond Street, Lower Northern Avenue, Front Street Parking Lot, Colonial Theater Lot, Eagles Lot, Mill Park, and any city-owned property along the Kennebec River.
Businesses and homes in downtown Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner were flooded Tuesday afternoon and the Kennebec River wasn't expected to crest until late-Tuesday or early-Wednesday morning. Power was turned off to downtown Augusta's business district because the raging floodwaters had caused concerns about propane leaks.
Walking through the heart of Hallowell's businesses district, which was closed to traffic because of standing water, Kennebec County EMA director Sean Goodwin said he hadn't seen water come up that high in more than 30 years.
"I mean we have flooding every year in this town, but not like this. Not when we're having to close roads, or I should say the river has closed roads. But these are people's livelihoods. This is a bad time of year to be doing this," Goodwin said.
After emptying their basements, some business owners in Hallowell were putting sandbags along the front stoops and were removing items from their first floor space in case the water continued to rise.
Flood warnings are in effect along the Androscoggin, Carrabassett, Kennebec, Penobscot and Piscataquis rivers.
