With the windy mess Monday was, towns stepped up as they do, to help all get through.

Wiscasset’s TextMyGov informed subscribers of the free service about the day’s road closures and the town office’s early closure, while Alna told residents via email, the emergency shelter at the fire department was open. And Alna Volunteer Fire Department’s Facebook page told of road closures and advised people, “Please stay home if possible and be prepared for debris blocking any road until the storm moves out tonight.”

Westport Volunteer Fire Department’s Facebook page had similar advice and shared Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency’s post directing people to its website for a list of road closures. 

Around the Midcoast, community-based Facebook pages also saw residents sharing with one another the latest on where trees were down, where to get a hot shower, etc. 

Kudos to all the officials and non-officials who helped keep the towns and their people safe, through word of mouth on and off social media. We know what we’re getting by living in a state with this many trees. They are beautiful, and good for the environment; not so good in a ground-soaked December when the winds are exceeding many roads’ speed limit.  

The outages and road and other closures that make a normal day of work or other functions not so normal are unwelcome but expected. Thank goodness Mainers are so good at dealing with it.

Week’s positive parting thought: At least Monday’s storm did not leave power customers in below freezing temperatures; hard to tell at press time Tuesday, but hopefully when temperatures fell on subsequent nights, everyone had their power back.