By Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Drought conditions, recent rainfall and an unusual storm path in Maine may have contributed to the large numbers of trees that toppled during a storm that walloped the Northeast this week, officials said.
Because of dry conditions, the trees’ roots weren’t healthy, and ground conditions and foliage that remained on the trees made them more susceptible to wind, said Peter Rogers, acting director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency.
The driest conditions are along the coast, where the wind gusts were the strongest.
Maine’s two major utilities were still reporting more than 200,000 customers without power Wednesday afternoon.
Across the Northeast, a more than 440,000 people were still without power Wednesday.
Some Rhode Island officials said it was taking too long for the state’s main electric utility, National Grid, to restore power.
The scope of the damage in Maine made comparisons to the 1998 ice storm inevitable.
Roger Pomerleau turned his business into a makeshift shelter after the ice storm, allowing employees of his home furnishings store to use the washing machines and refrigerators while their homes were without power.
“The temperature is in our favor right now.
Those were cold temperatures back then,” Pomerleau said.