Maine Forest Service forest rangers today are assessing ice jams and localized flooding for the Maine Emergency Management Agency.
The forest rangers, using personal data assistants (PDAs), are monitoring ice jams on the Piscataquis River in the towns of Dover, Abbot and Willamantic. One MFS ranger also is on scene monitoring an ice jam on the Kennebec River.
Several resident reports made today to emergency management officials prompted the activation of the forest rangers, who work in partnership with county and state emergency management officials.
Ranger Dustin Pickering of Greenville sent in several assessments during the effort and used the PDA to collect photographs and map locations. The information was instantaneously transmitted using the PDA technology, supplied by Global Relief Technologies of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The real time information, viewed over a secure internet connection by emergency managers in Dover and Augusta, allows for timely and accurate intelligence, providing them with an enhanced situational awareness on the flooding and ice jams.
Ranger Pickering, along with Rangers Doug Huettner and Russ Landry, continued Tuesday afternoon to collect information on trouble spots in Piscataquis County.
In Augusta, an ice jam on the Kennebec River was reported causing flooding to Lower Water Street. Ranger Scott Maddox, also armed with the PDA technology, is on scene sending in intelligence assessments.
