Floods devastated components of Massachusetts on Monday hours after heavy rain rained down on the area, prompting emergency evacuations and sweeping away total roads.
The Nationwide Climate Service (NWS) issued a flash flood emergency for the cities of Leominster, Fitchburg and Lunenburg in northern Worcester County till 8 a.m. Tuesday, calling it a “life-threatening scenario” and urging residents to maneuver to larger floor instantly.
Based on a report from WBZ meteorologist Terry Eliassen, components of Leominster — about 37 miles northwest of Boston — noticed greater than 9 1/4 inches of rain by 9 p.m. Monday. Flash flood warning It was additionally issued for components of jap and southeastern Massachusetts, in addition to the county surrounding Windfall, Rhode Island, which noticed 2 to 4 inches of rain as of 8:14 p.m. Monday.
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Posted by Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella video He wrote on his Fb web page Monday night urging residents to remain off the roads and keep indoors, describing his metropolis of about 43,600 folks as “one huge lake.”
“Please discover a excessive place someplace,” Mazzarella added. “Discover a excessive level and keep there till that is over. Wanting on the radar, it appears to be like like it is going to proceed for a very long time.”
Movies shared on-line confirmed drivers stranded on fully flooded roads on Monday night. In a video shared on X, previously Twitter, by WCVB In Boston, an individual is seen sitting on high of his automobile holding an umbrella in the course of Freeway 2, which is totally flooded.
The Massachusetts Division of Transportation reported on X that Route 2 was closed in each instructions as of seven p.m. Monday. Based on the Worcester telegram and newspaper, Components of the freeway had been coated in as much as 4 toes of water.
Flood emergency! 🚨🚨 A uncommon flash flood emergency has been issued in Leominster amid extreme flooding within the space.
New video exhibits no less than one particular person on high of their automobile after Route 2 in Fitchburg was flooded. https://t.co/8HDidyRjdq pic.twitter.com/3dwo8IkTDL– WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) September 11, 2023
Gaps additionally appeared alongside a number of roads in Leominster, and a few residents had been stranded after bridges had been fully washed away. Worcester Telegram and Gazette Photojournalist Rick Sinclair shared a video In his account
Sinclair additionally captured A video Leominster Hearth Division personnel evacuate residents through boat from a flooded cell residence. WBZ Meteorologist Jacob Wyckoff Hearth division officers mentioned in addition they referred to as for an emergency evacuation of a complete constructing on Spruce Street close to downtown Leominster. Wycoff famous in X that Monoosnoc Brook passes beneath the constructing.
Newsweek I reached out to the Leominster Hearth Division through e-mail Monday evening for extra data.
Mike Saccone, a contract journalist based mostly in Boston, shared a video On his account One minute into the video, the sound of a second glass door contained in the constructing may be heard shattering because the water degree continues to rise.
Paula Deacon, Superintendent of Leominster Public Faculties, introduced that colleges can be closed on Tuesday as a consequence of “intensive flooding” brought on by the storm.
“There may be catastrophic flooding within the Leominster space and different communities throughout the state this night,” Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey mentioned in a press release. statement. “My coronary heart goes out to the affected communities and public security personnel.”
“I’ve spoken with Mayor Mazzarella and have instructed state companies to do all the things they will to assist,” Healey added. “Massachusetts Emergency Administration Company (MEMA), Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and Division of Hearth Providers (DFS) are on the bottom with boat rescue and emergency response groups to make sure the security of our residents.”