Machias, Maine – After nine so‑called 100‑year floods struck the town between 2018 and early 2024, local residents and officials have taken concrete steps to safeguard the aging dike that protects Route 1 and the town’s waterfront.

Local leadership drives the effort

Dr. Tora Johnson, director of the Sustainable Prosperity Initiative at the Sunrise County Economic Council, says the community chose a practical approach: ask residents what tools they need and then provide them. “We didn’t go around and say, ‘You idiot, you have to believe in climate change,’” she explained. Instead, her team created a storm‑surge map that shows which roads and properties could flood under various scenarios.

Mapping flood risk for real‑world decisions

The map, developed in the early 2010s, revealed that downtown Machias – home to small businesses, municipal offices, hotels and homes – faces higher coastal‑flood risk than most of the state. Armed with that data, residents and business owners began planning upgrades, reinforcing the dike and improving drainage.

Volunteer action on the ground

When the most recent flood waters receded, community members rolled up their sleeves. They cleared debris from the dike bridge, repaired minor erosion and coordinated with the town’s public works department to prioritize critical repairs. The effort reflects a broader rural‑America trend: local people solving problems when outside help is scarce.

Rural climate resilience still underfunded

According to the Rural Climate Partnership, less than 2 % of philanthropic climate‑related funding reaches rural areas, even though they house over 19 % of the nation’s population and emit roughly 38 % of U.S. greenhouse gases. Maine’s overall emissions are low, and Washington County ranks among the state’s lowest emitters, but the town’s reliance on fishing, agriculture and tourism makes flood protection essential for its economy.

Looking ahead

Johnson stresses that the work is ongoing. The community continues to seek state and federal assistance for larger infrastructure projects, while also promoting home‑weatherization and heat‑pump installations through tribal partnerships such as the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s resilience committees. By focusing on practical tools rather than partisan debate, Machias hopes to preserve its historic charm and economic vitality for future generations.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.