Maine Gov. Janet Mills has declared a state of emergency and asked for a federal disaster declaration in advance of Hurricane Lee, which is expected to hit the state this weekend. 

“The preemptive actions I took today position Maine to seize federal resources to respond to the impacts of Hurricane Lee,” Mills said in a statement. “We continue to closely track the storm and are expecting heavy rains and high winds that likely will cause storm surge, inland flooding, infrastructure damage, and power outages.” 

Anne Strauser, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Caribou, said when the storm arrives on Saturday, it will likely have weakened to a tropical storm. Its center is also likely to pass just east of Maine toward St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. Still, she said, the storm will pack a punch.  

“This is a really large storm,” she said. “The impacts from that storm are going to be a ways away from that center point.” 

At the very least, Strauser said, much of Maine’s coast, especially Downeast Maine, will be under a tropical storm watch, with sustained winds in the Downeast area as high as 35-45 mph, and wind gusts as high as 65 mph. 

The storm is also expected to bring heavy rain. Strauser said unusual amounts of rain this year, coupled with heavy rains earlier in the week, lead to concerns about flash flooding on Saturday. 

“The ground is quite soft and full of water,” she said. 

Jon Breed, a spokesperson for Central Maine Power, said saturated ground and limbs still full of leaves raises the risk of power outages. 

“Soil erosion, nutrient loss and area flooding has really weakened root systems, and those weakened root systems, combined with full foliage on the trees, is just creating stress, and potentially going to worsen the impact of the storm,” he said. 

Mills’ Proclamation of Emergency cited the risk of wind, high surf and heavy rain as posing “an imminent threat to public safety as well as damage to public and private property.” 

The proclamation, according to Mills’ statement, also allows for the activation of the Maine Emergency Management Agency. MEMA spokesperson Vanessa Corson said today that inland residents should be as vigilant as those living on the coast. 

“Hurricanes and tropical storms are not just a coastal concern,” she said. “Impacts from this storm will be felt well beyond its projected path. That means everyone needs to be ready.” 

Residents are advised to stockpile food, water, medication, flashlights, batteries and hand sanitizer. Generators should be in good working order, kept away from enclosed areas and otherwise used correctly and safely. 

Mills also asked for a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration, which would give Maine access to federal resources. According to Mills’ statement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has offered its support to Maine in response to the storm.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Press Secretary Jeremy Edwards said FEMA often gets requests for disaster declarations in advance of an event such as a storm. 

Assuming the declaration comes prior to the storm’s arrival, Edwards said FEMA will deploy and prepare resources. That can include materials such as food, water, blankets and cots. It also includes personnel, he said, such as search and rescue teams.

“You’ll have states request these pre-landfall declarations, and that just kind of gives us the ability to pre-position a lot of this stuff so we can move into action, so there’s not really any delay when the storm passes – we’re ready to go,” Edwards said.

Edwards underscored local advice to take warnings seriously, even if the storm weakens as predicted. 

“Even if it’s a tropical storm, it’s still going to have up to three, four feet of storm surge in some places, you’re still going to see a lot of rainfall,” he said.

Edwards also noted that following the eye and “cone” as depicted on weather maps doesn’t tell the whole story. The storm, he said, is about 300 miles wide, which means the impact will be wider than may be depicted on a graphic or map.

“Getting caught up in that can be to your own detriment,” he said. “Really think about all the risks that are associated with this. Take all the preparation you need.”