MIDCOAST — Waves of seawater washed over the harbors this morning, Dec. 23, bringing piles of seaweed, broken boards and bits of trash ashore with waters never seen so high.

High tide was at approximately 10 a.m., with winds gusting out of the east and southeast. The winds later in the day began shifting around to the southwest.

Area firefighters throughout the day were busy clearing downed trees, some sparking and burning on wires. Route 1 at Lincolnville Beach, was cordoned off due to impassable high water at high tide.

Camden’s fire department was called to tend to a floating propane tank in a flooded parking lot on Bay View Street, with the concern of spilled propane. There was a foot of water in the garage but the tank was not leaking, reported Fire Chief Chris Farley.

Clarry Hill Road was closed for awhile due to a downed tree, reopened briefly, then closed again (and again) for other trees. 

Finn Town Road, in Warren, was closed shortly after noon due to a tree, and a tree on North Haven also prompted a response from that fire department.

A partial closure on Pascal Avenue in Rockport was initiated shortly after noon, and an upright tree in the wires that caused a response to Washington’s Route 17 and Vanner Road location in the morning eventually fell down after noon, blocking traffic lanes.

At 1:20 p.m., Camden Fire Department was called to a report of a generator fire on Mechanic Street.

Law enforcement was also out. A Rockland police officer moved a trampoline out of the middle of one Rockland street, and several other officers around the region have pulled tree limbs and debris out of the line of traffic.

The calls kept coming throughout the afternoon. 

At 2 p.m., Shipyard Road, in Friendship, was closed due to a high tension wire across the road. Rockland and Thomaston FDs responded to tree obstacles on West Meadow and Old County roads. 

After 4 p.m., Washington FD responded to a report of multiple trees down on the Skidmore Road. 

Power outages have put Camden and Rockport in the dark. Drivers on the road are encountering tremendous winds that shake the car. Yards and roads are strewn with tree limbs, and yet, here and there, the intrepid jogger was out running, anyway.

As of 5 p.m., Central Maine Power was reporting outages affecting 150,000 customers. In the Midcoast, various parts of the municipalities experienced loss of electricity. Some homes were restored, others remained without power as CMP crews tended to the lines. 

Stepping outside in some neighborhoods, the steady throbbing of generators was apparent, even as the wind gusted.