Posted on January 7, 2026
OLD ORCHARD BEACH — There are new efforts to repair coastal damage in Old Orchard Beach caused by record high tides and strong storms two years ago.
It will cost more than $1 million to undo what tides destroyed in minutes, mostly paid for with federal and state disaster funds. Local families whose homes flooded say it’s worth every penny.
The beach entrance near Goosefare Brook is one of the ways floodwaters got into Ocean Park, flooding the community during the historic storm surge in January of 2024. Next week, the Town of Old Orchard Beach will begin work to restore the dunes there.
“I think it’s fantastic. It probably will buy us some more time,” Old Orchard Beach resident Christine McKinney said.
Her Ocean Park home was one of more than 75 that flooded two years ago.
“There was four feet of water in our garage and crawl space during the first flood,” McKinney said.
Marty Edwards also had four feet of water in his beachside home.
Old Orchard Beach (WGME)
“Hopefully that was an anomaly, and it’s not going to happen very often. But it was pretty bad. A lot of people had a lot of problems here,” Edwards said.
Old Orchard Beach erosion{ }(Town of Old Orchard Beach)
A topographical map of the southern end of Old Orchard Beach on Goosefare Brook shows how the area saw the most erosion. That part of the beach has lost 3 to 5 feet of sand since 2020, mostly from the record tides. Crews plan to dump 1,400 cubic yards of sand next week over 400 feet of the beach.
For now, the tide continues to erode more sand.
“It’s constantly changing. The water goes where it goes,” Edwards said. “Every time you go down there, it’s different. The water just keeps eroding and eroding that sand.”
The following week, crews will haul in another 4,500 cubic yards of sand from a quarry in Dayton to replenish over half a mile of beach north of The Pier.
“Those dunes protected hundreds of homes and businesses from more severe flooding, and it’s important that we restore them,” Old Orchard Beach Town Manager Diana Asanza said.
Sea grass will also be planted to further protect the beach.
Old Orchard Beach (WGME)
“I’m hoping that this is going to be great for the whole neighborhood and the beach community,” McKinney said.
Town leaders say with sea levels rising, this is only a start. Much more sand will need to be brought in or dredged, along with other measures, to protect the beach from rising sea levels and a 100-year flood.
“Anything to help keep the water out,” Edwards said.
Both projects were scheduled to be completed in 2025 but were delayed because of the government shutdown.
