Remembering Bangor, Maine’s Devastating Flood 50 Years Later

50 years ago, no one in Bangor cared if the groundhog saw its shadow as waters rose and cars began to float.

Bangor, Maine, Storm Surge in 1976 Flooded Kenduskeag Plaza

It was a weird, stormy day. The National Weather Service reported low pressure was moving rapidly northeast with strong southerly winds. Ocean water began to back up in Penobscot Bay and then surged up the river to Bangor.

I remember that day as windy and very rainy, but otherwise normal. Then my Dad came home from work.

Dad worked in a building across from Westmarket Square on Main Street and typically came home after 6:00 pm. But on that day, he arrived home before noon after a Bangor Police Officer told them all to go home because Kenduskeag Plaza had flooded.

According to the National Weather Service, the Kenduskeag Stream was rising at 10 inches per minute with frigid, February water

Bangor, Maine, Downtown Businesses and Residents Struggled With 1976 Floodwater

Shortly after 11 am, the parking plaza had 12 feet of water. Businesses around the plaza flooded.

People who tried to move their vehicles often found themselves floating, out of control.

When their vehicles would lower back to the pavement, those same people were climbing onto their roofs, and either jumping from car to car, or waiting to be rescued.

One young woman sat on her roof until a young man swam out to save her. I remember hearing sometime later that they got married.

1976 Storm Surge on Groundhog Day in Maine Caused Problems Around the State

The storm caused problems in other communities, as well, including in Searsport, where a Japanese freighter washed ashore. It had to wait weeks for a significant high tide to float it back out to sea.

With recent computer models and alert systems, Mainers would have had some warning. But, back then, the Downtown Bangor Flood of '76 took everyone by surprise.