KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (AP) — Downgraded to a tropical storm, Irene still packed enough punch to cause more than 200,000 power outages, cause flash flooding and send dozens of Mainers to shelters as strong wind gusts and rain buffeted parts of the state on Sunday.

Strong winds that knocked down trees on Sunday were expected to continue gusting to 50 mph through the night, the National Weather Service said. Heavy rainfall in northwestern Maine led to numerous road closings.

“We’ve seen nor’easters that have been bigger, but this one is still impressive. You get the sea spray in your face. That’s what it’s all about, a little taste of the sea,” said Joe Rolland of Kennebunk as he watched the waves crash against the rocky shore in Kennebunkport, sending spray shooting upward.

The wind knocked out power to 182,000 Central Maine Power Co. customers, said utility spokesman John Carroll. Farther north, Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. reported more than 29,000 outages, the bulk in Hancock County.

The heaviest rainfall was in western Maine, where meteorologists estimated that 8 to 9 inches had fallen in northern Oxford County. Other areas had totals in the 2-4 inch range.

North of Carrabassett Valley, a Route 27 bridge failed and the town’s residents were left temporarily stranded because Route 27 to the south was covered with water, said Clyde Ross, an emergency management spokesman in Franklin County.

Numerous trees were reported knocked down by the wind, including one that loomed menacingly over Route 302 while caught in power lines in the Windham area.

Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reached Maine after moving up the Eastern Seaboard, but it still carried some wallop.

“I didn’t think it was going to be this bad. I don’t think people took it as seriously as they should have,” Patricia St. Laurent of South Portland said after snapping photos of churning seas that tossed several sailboats violently off Portland’s East End Beach. “I never in a million years thought it would be like this.”

While the rain ended earlier than expected Sunday afternoon in southern Maine, the Maine Emergency Management Agency issued a reminder that the storm was not over and dangerous conditions could last into Monday, especially near the coast where the surf could remain high. High tide late Sunday night was also seen as a flood threat along parts of the coast, and Acadia National Park planned to close a section of its Park Loop Road overnight.

 A day before Sunday’s much-anticipated storm, it was anything but calm at Lapointe’s Lawn and Garden Center in Lewiston, where the inventory of generators was sold out before the merchandise reached the store.

 At The Home Depot in Auburn, pallets stacked high with portable generators were moved to the front of the store, along with gasoline containers and cases of blue tarps, duct tape, batteries, flashlights and bottled water.

 “We’ve been steady, very steady,” said Phyllis Mason of the Farmers Union True Value Hardware store in Farmington, where lamp oil and candles were among the hot items Saturday.

 Shaw’s Supermarkets said business picked up sharply Friday and Saturday in the chain’s 22 Maine stores as storm-conscious shoppers stocked up on staples, especially bread, water and other nonperishables, spokesman Steve Sylven said.

 “We’ve seen a lot of water and bread fly off the shelf,” Sylven said.

 From the coast to inland areas, Mainers snapped up batteries, moved boats from the water and bought bread as Hurricane Irene zeroed in on the state.

 But in a state that’s used to storms of all kinds, there were few if any signs of panic in advance of Irene’s winds and rain.

 “Maine citizens are used to severe weather and are very resilient, but now is not a time to be overconfident,” Gov. Paul LePage said at an emergency management briefing Saturday afternoon.

 Fallen trees were on the minds of the state’s utilities, which lined up extra crews to repair downed power lines. Central Maine Power Co., which covers most of the state, arranged to use 60 private-contractor crews from inside Maine, plus 60 from Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada, to back up CMP’s own 80 repair crews, spokesman John Carroll said. CMP also lined up 150 tree-cutting crews, he said.

 “It’ll be a huge team of people,” Carroll said.

 Joanne Potvin, director of the Androscoggin Emergency Management Agency as well as for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn said Saturday the EMA office under the Lewiston Central Fire Station would be staffed Sunday to continually review public safety measures. If storm conditions warrant, her office will open emergency shelters. The most recent storm that resulted in the opening of the Park Avenue Elementary School shelter was an ice storm two years ago, she said.

 Mainers can dial 211 toll-free information for emergency shelter information, she said. A conference call with other county EMAs is scheduled for Sunday morning to update storm plans, she said.

 Residents seeking the latest emergency management information and tips for storm preparations should visit www.fema.gov or www.ready.gov, Potvin said.

 Transportation officials were carefully monitoring the storm, but Amtrak had already taken precautions by canceling Sunday’s Downeaster runs. The railroad planned to inspect the tracks after the storm passes to see if service could resume Monday, said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority.

 Portland International Jetport was expected to remain open on Sunday, but airlines serving the jetport may change their schedules as a result of the storm, officials said. Passengers will have to check with the carriers or their websites to see the status of flights.

 Vehicle ferry service to the Casco Bay Islands off Portland was expected to be canceled Sunday, based on Saturday’s weather forecasts.

 Entertainment events attended by tens of thousands across the state were also cut short due to the storm. In Bangor, the final day of the American Folk Festival on Sunday was canceled amid concerns about strong winds at the Penobscot River site. Sunday’s opening of the Windsor Fair was delayed until Monday afternoon, and organizers of the Great State of Maine Air Show in Brunswick canceled Sunday’s show.

ROAD CLOSURES AS OF SUNDAY 5:45 p.m.

* Auburn: Washington Street north at the rotary

* Sumner: Tuell Hill Road at Redding Road

* Sumner: Redding Road is blocked at the west branch of the Nezinscot River

* Sumner: Gammon Road block near Fields Hill Road

* Sumner: Northend of Valley Road (dirt section)

* Sumner: Berdine Road

* Rumford: Spruce Street near Main Avenue, Bean Brook has swelled and taken over the road.

 * Rumford: Swain Road near Community Energy

 * Rumford: Isthmus Road by at least 18 inches of water

 * South Rumford Road

* Beliveau Road, partially washed out