On Monday night, Leominster, Massachusetts, found itself grappling with a dire state of emergency as relentless rain triggered devastating flash flooding. Streets were submerged, sinkholes emerged, and homes suffered damage as the city was deluged.
Mayor Dean Mazzarella made the official declaration of a state of emergency at 5:30 p.m. ET, sounding the alarm on social media with a clear message: “Do not venture out. It is not safe.”
The calamity unfolded as slow-moving thunderstorms unleashed their fury on various parts of New England, depositing a staggering 9½ inches of rain on Leominster, situated to the northwest of Boston.
Mayor Mazzarella took to Facebook, sharing videos of his travels through the inundated city, emphatically urging residents to remain indoors. In one video, he painted a grim picture, stating, “Everything’s flooding. Simplest thing I can tell you. It’s every part of the city. It’s basements, roofs, cars, it’s everywhere. What I can tell you is there’s no reason to go out, unless it’s an emergency, stay home.”
Authorities swiftly mobilized police and fire departments to provide assistance, as river levels threatened to breach their crest levels.
A flash flood emergency was declared for the area, initially extending until 10:30 p.m., but subsequently prolonged until 8 a.m. on Tuesday for Leominster, Fitchburg, and Lunenburg, as announced by the National Weather Service. Residents were urged to seek higher ground immediately and cautioned against walking or driving through floodwaters.
Heart-wrenching images from the night depicted streets transformed into waterways, structures partially collapsing, and menacing sinkholes rendering some roads impassable.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency issued an evacuation alert due to concerns over the Barrett Park Pond dam. Residents residing in low-lying areas along the Fall Brook tributary to Fall Brook, spanning Central Street, Fall Brook, and the North Nashua River, were instructed to evacuate immediately and find safety.
A shelter was made available at Sky View Middle School in Leominster for those in need.
In an update on Tuesday morning, Mayor Mazzarella reported that approximately 15 roads within the town were closed, around 100 individuals sought shelter at Frances Drake Elementary School, and the floods wreaked havoc on businesses and residences. Additionally, dozens, if not hundreds, of vehicles had to be rescued from the floodwaters during the harrowing events of Monday night.
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Efforts are now underway to assess the extent of the damage, and as a result, schools in Leominster remained closed on Tuesday.
Governor Maura Healey expressed her sympathy on Monday night, tweeting, “My heart goes out to residents and public safety officials in Leominster and other communities experiencing catastrophic flooding tonight.”
