Flood in Oxford County, Maine

The Androscoggin River reached flood stage during the morning of May 1. Flood waters out of Gorham flooded areas from Gilead, to extensive flooding in Bethel and Rumford. Flooding started at North Road in Gilead, followed by Route 26 in Bethel between Cross Street and Intervale Road. In Rumford, South Rumford Road flooded. Low spots flood along the Swift and Androscoggin Rivers in Mexico and Rumford flooded including parks and boat launches. The USGS river gage in Rumford crested at 15.76 feet, less than a foot above flood stage.

Record flooding occurred on December 18th after a storm brought heavy rain and rapid snowmelt to the Ellis River. The river reached major flood stage cresting at 21.5 feet with a flow of 15,800 cfs, surpassing the previous flood of record of 19.26 feet set in December of 2003. The storm was estimated as a 0.2% annual chance exceedance flood, otherwise referred to as a 500-year event. Flooding cut off the town of Andover with closures of Maine Route 120, Roxbury Pond Road, Route 5, and Upton Road. Water cut-off a historic covered bridge, compromising the structure. Route 5 was closed for several weeks due to severe damage to the road. Meadow Brook, a tributary to the Ellis, caused a washout on Roxbury Notch Road. Infrastructure loss from roads and bridges across the area is about $100,000.

Ice flows from Gorham were transported downstream to Rumford on December 23rd when rain and snowmelt raised river levels. The ice jammed at the Rumford dam, causing fast rising water during the early morning hours of December 24. All three roads into Rumford from the west were flooded. Route 232 and Route 2 were severely flooded with water 1 to 5 feet deep. Flood waters entered around a dozen properties, including the first floor of at least 5 structures. Multiple cold water rescues were conducted for motorists surprised by the flooded roads at night. No fatalities or injuries were reported.