Residents say city failed to notify or assist after Grimes Road flooding, urge clearer emergency chain of command

Several residents told the Caribou City Council on April 28 that a sudden flood on Grimes Road stranded neighbors, including a 78‑year‑old man, for three days and that the city did not contact them or offer assistance until after the water receded.

The complaints came during the public forum when Michelle Blackstone of 170 Hardison Road said her father, who lives on Grimes Road, was isolated by high floodwaters over a weekend and was not contacted by city officials until Monday morning after she posted on social media and called the city manager. “My 78‑year‑old father [was] surrounded by high flood waters,” Blackstone said. She said drone footage and a municipal vehicle were posted on social media, but no one called affected residents.

Blackstone said she was told by a city contact that emergency responders needed the city manager’s direction to take action, and that no one responded until after she called Monday. She contrasted Caribou’s response with neighboring Fort Fairfield, where she said the police chief kept residents updated by text and law enforcement monitored the river and checked on people in person.

Why it matters: speakers described the incident as a missed opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of emergency training and to protect vulnerable residents. Several asked the council to clarify how and when emergency dollars and personnel are deployed and to establish a clearer chain of command so a similar lapse does not happen again.

Council response and next steps: the mayor thanked the speaker and said staff would follow up; no formal vote or policy change occurred during the meeting. Councilors and staff discussed the incident in public comment but did not adopt any directive or formal action at that meeting. The record shows residents pressed for discussion and follow‑up rather than immediate operational changes.

Details and context: Blackstone said affected residents were effectively isolated for “three days.” She asked what emergency training and resources are purchased if no one responds during an actual emergency and asked for clearer accountability. The speaker asked the council to explain how emergency services funds are used and to report back on a plan to ensure contact and support for isolated residents during off‑hours.

Ending: Council staff acknowledged the concern and indicated follow‑up would be provided; the transcript records no formal motion, vote, or new policy regarding emergency response at the April 28 meeting.