Nor’easter storm damage clean-up continues across Windham

By Masha Yurkevich

Unlike the popular saying of April showers brings May flowers, Windham’s April started with snow and destructive winds instead of raindrops and puddles. The April 4 nor’easter storm caused significant damage, knocked out power for a majority of residents for several days and left the property of many people in a mess of debris and fallen limbs, causing uncertainty about who is responsible for the clean-up afterward.

Tree damage remains a problem in Windham
more than a month following a nor'easter
that caused significant damage in the area.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

“This storm had a significant impact on vegetation in Windham,” said Jon Earle, Windham’s Public Works Director. “There were numerous trees and limbs down on both town and private roads.”

In Windham itself, the storm’s strong winds were widespread and combined with at least 2 feet of heavy snow causing tree limbs to fall on overhead power lines resulting in power outages for more than 90 percent of residents. The power outages affected more than 300,000 homes and businesses statewide and persisted through that weekend.

Some trees lining major roadways in and out of Windham sustained damage and can still be seen almost a month later.

Earle said that damage from a storm like this keeps the Public Works crews busy.

“Public Works has been working consistently doing clean-up of branches, limbs and debris,” says Earle. “After the snow was over, we immediately transitioned into clearing limbs, trees, and debris from the roadways. We prioritized by getting roads passable for emergency services and vehicles. At this point, we are continuing clean-up efforts with a focus on eliminating hazards to the roadways, safety hazards, and anything that could cause drainage issues.”

Some residents have been hauling tree branches that have fallen to the roadside, expecting Windham Public Works to pick them up. Unfortunately, Earle said that Public Works just doesn’t have the resources to do curbside brush clean-up from private property.

“The crew is working hard to get everything cleaned up and move on to their normal spring work tasks such as sweeping, mowing, and preparing roads to be paved,” says Earle. “We ask that residents do not put debris and limbs from their property on the side of the road in anticipation of the town collecting it.”

However, this debris and limbs can be taken to and disposed of at the Windham’s Brush Disposal Site. Most of the debris from the latest storms can be brought to the leaf and brush disposal site located on Enterprise Drive in North Windham.

“We ask that all debris, limbs, branches, brush, leaves, bark, and mulch, brought to this location be limited to less than 12 inches in diameter,” says Earle. “This program is only for the disposal of leaves and brush. We ask that you separate the leaves from the brush and dispose of it in the appropriate areas as the posted signs indicate. If you transport your leaves in bags, please remove them from the bags and take the bags with you. We ask that brush be no larger than 12 inches in diameter.”

The leaf and brush disposal area is located at the very end of Enterprise Drive, off of Route 302, behind the self-storage building.

Earle said that because of the storm which struck the community on April 4 and April 5 with significant winds and snowfall, the spring leaf and brush site will remain open until May 12.

For more information, please visit https://www.windhammaine.us/586/Leaf-and-Brush-Disposal or call Windham Public Works at 207-892-1909.<