Photo: Darren McCollester/Getty Images
Devastating flash flooding in Leominster, Massachusetts, prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency Monday night after rains flooded roads, created sinkholes and damaged homes.
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella said the city was under a state of emergency as of 5:30 p.m. ET on Monday.
“Don’t venture. It’s not safe,” she wrote at the time on social media.
Slow-moving thunderstorms caused flash flooding in parts of New England Monday night, dumping 9½ inches on Leominster, which is northwest of Boston.
The mayor shared videos on Facebook of his tours of the city warning people to stay home.
“Everything is flooding. The 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 that there is no reason to go out, unless it is an emergency, stay home,” Mazzarella said in a video.
He said police and firefighters were called to help and that Rivers were in danger of reaching peak levels.
A flash flood emergency was declared for the area until 10:30 p.m. and extended until 8 a.m. Tuesday for Leominster, Fitchburg and Lunenburg, the National Weather Service said.
The warning urged locals to “immediately move to higher ground” and avoid walking or driving through flooded waters.
The stark images taken during the night show streets turned into rivers, partially collapsed buildings and huge sinkholes in the streets which make some roads impassable.
Earlier Tuesday, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency issued an evacuation alert due to concerns about the Barrett Park Pond Dam.
The alert said people in low-lying areas of the Fall Brook to Fall Brook tributary along Central Street, Fall Brook and the North Nashua River should “immediately evacuate and safely leave the area.”
A shelter is available at Sky View Secondary School in Leominsterauthorities said.
In an update Tuesday morning, Mazzarella said about 15 roads were closed in the city, while About 100 people were sheltering at Frances Drake Elementary School.
Flooding affected businesses and homes, while dozens, if not hundreds, of cars had to be towed out of floodwaters Monday night, NBC Boston reported.
Crews are now working to assess the damage and schools will be closed in Leominster on Tuesday.
Gov. Maura Healey tweeted Monday night: “My heart goes out to the residents and public safety officials in Leominster and other communities experiencing catastrophic flooding tonight.”
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