“Please Share!” began the NWS Facebook post. “A flash flood warning has been issued for Androscoggin County until 9:45 p.m! Storm has rainfall rates up to four-inches an hour and is currently stationary.”

And then, in case anyone was considering barreling through one of the giant puddles that developed when the rains came minutes later, the meteorologists posted a dire warning: “TURN AROUND,” “DON’T DROWN!!!”

No drownings were reported in the area, but the weather service wasn’t exaggerating. Just before 8 p.m., thunder started to boom and the rain came hard.

Several people reported getting emergency alerts on their cellphones advising them of the potential for flooding. People who were outside when it started went scurrying for cover. Moments later, they lit up Facebook with their reactions.

“I’m still scared of thunder,” wrote Kristen Globesnsky of Lewiston, “and cowering like a baby.”

“My phone alarm scared the crap out of me with that flood alert,” wrote Gail Scipione Shelley of Auburn.

“I screamed like I was about to get murdered and scared my kids,” wrote Monkia Leigh, of Lewiston. “Now we are all cowering on the couch like a bunch of wusses.”

“Rumbling, raining and very dark in Lisbon,” said Barbara Dupee Kazimer.

“Rear deck flooded,” wrote Dave Marquis, of Lewiston. “Pool over-flowed, kids panicked.”

Heavy rain and booming thunder was reported in Hartford, Livermore and elsewhere. A New Gloucester woman reported that power went out for a few seconds but then came on again. A Poland woman reported heavy wind, heavy rain and lightning lighting up the sky over Range Pond.

Across Lewiston and Auburn, sirens wailed as fire departments were sent scrambling as the storm activated alarms in area businesses. An elderly housing facility reported leaking on Montello Street in Lewiston.

Fire crews were investigating reports of a house struck by lightning on Victor Street, off Sabattus Street, in Lewiston. A woman there reported that part of her ceiling came down in the ruckus. That turned out to be a fallen tree rather than a lightning strike.

By 8:30 p.m., most fire crews were returning to their stations. The rain had stopped and the thunder was reduced to distant rumbles.

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