As the city of Leominster, Massachusetts faces "catastrophic floods," officials have issued urgent warnings for residents in several neighborhoods near the Barrett Park Pond Dam to evacuate immediately. After a state of emergency was declared earlier today, the city's people find themselves grappling with the harsh reality of their homes and lives at risk.
Heavy rain sparked chaos across Leominster, with cars trapped in floodwater, water rushing through backyards, and many residents stranded at home due to rising waters, CBS News reports. In addition to the danger posed by water, significant damage has been reported, with homes in the city's Pennacook Drive neighborhood suffering major structural damage. Foundations have been washed out from under houses, and vehicles have been left sideways in driveways, forcing the evacuation of several homes.
With the Barrett Park Pond Dam facing potential issues, city officials advised those in low-lying areas, including the Fall Broom tributary to Fall Brook along Central Street, and the North Nashua River, of an immediate and pressing need to leave the area. Emergency shelters have been established at Sky View Middle School and Francis Drake Elementary School, with more than 50 people taking refuge as of this morning, MassLive confirms.
Schools in the city have been closed, and multiple transportation routes have been disrupted, signaling the gravity of the situation. Notably, Route 2 was shut down in both directions last night, and although it has since reopened, transportation continues to be impacted. MassDOT and MBTA notifications on X, formerly known as Twitter, announced the suspension of part of the Fitchburg Line of the Commuter Rail due to flooding. Fitchburg Line trains will begin and end at Shirley station until further notice, MassLive adds.
The National Weather Service has reported several more instances of flooding, including the evacuation of numerous homes and a trailer park of 30 people on Central Street around 9:30 PM yesterday. A sinkhole has also been reported at Pond and Pleasant streets just after 8 PM, as recorded by MassLive.
Officials, in their efforts to mitigate the impact of the crisis, have requested residents in need of transportation to call 911 promptly to enable a swift evacuation. As of this morning, the flash flood warning in Leominster remains in effect until 8 AM, according to the Boston Globe.
