Superstorm Sandy lashes Maine with strong wind

DAVID SHARP

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A powerful storm that started out as Hurricane Sandy knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Maine and caused a rare shutdown of the port of Portland.

There were no mandatory evacuations in Maine even as wind gusts hit 63 mph in Portland and 76 mph in Bath.

As of late Monday, more than 80,000 homes and businesses, mostly in southern Maine, were in the dark.

Canadian utility crews were on loan in Maine and ready to assist with power restoration efforts. Maine National Guard troops were on six-hour standby in the event they are needed in Maine or elsewhere in New England.