Heavy rainfall has flooded elements of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with one metropolis declaring a state of emergency as water poured into houses, creating moats round their foundations, and stranded drivers.
Mayor Dean Mazzarella in Leominster urged individuals to not enterprise outdoors as roads flooded Monday night time, however some residents have been evacuated as water got here into their basements. All faculties have been closed Tuesday and two shelters have been arrange.
“The storm stopped over us last night. It didn’t move for close to five hours. It had dumped 11 inches (27.9 centimeters) of rain,” Mazzarella stated at a information convention Tuesday morning.
On Monday night time, in a recording posted on-line, he had urged individuals, “Find a high spot somewhere. Find a high spot and stay there until this is over.”
He stated if there have been any accidents they have been minor.
Early Tuesday, town stated individuals residing in areas close to a brook and the North Nashua River in Leominster ought to “immediately evacuate” as a precaution, “due to a potential issue at the Barrett Park Pond Dam.”
Shelter is on the market for evacuees at Skyview Middle School, in response to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
“This particular dam is one that we’re actually about to replace, and it is very sensitive. It is water-saturated and we worry about that downstream,” Mazzarella stated on the information convention.
He stated there have been no less than a number of houses the place “the water washed out around them” and the foundations may very well be seen.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey stated earlier that emergency boat rescue and response groups have been within the metropolis.
“My heart goes out to residents and public safety officials in Leominster and other communities experiencing catastrophic flooding tonight,” she posted on X, the platform previously referred to as Twitter.
Travel on Route 2 was shut down in each instructions throughout the flooding occasion.Eastbound journey was opened after midnight, and journey westbound resumed this morning simply earlier than 6:30 a.m., in response to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Other communities additionally skilled flooding. In North Attleboro, the city stated in a press release that crews labored to clear water from roads Monday night time and no less than 12 houses have been flooded.
Little rain was anticipated Tuesday, however storms are anticipated to hit the realm on Wednesday afternoon and night, and a few may produce heavy rain, the National Weather Service stated.
New England has skilled its share of flooding this summer time, together with a storm that dumped as much as two months of rain in two days in Vermont, leading to two deaths.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”