Last night, a storm sweeping through Massachusetts delivered more than just rain and wind—it forced Uxbridge residents out into the tempest when part of their building caved in under the weather's onslaught. The partial roof collapse of a three-story, mixed-use structure on South Main Street sent one person to the hospital with minor injuries. "The heavy rains on the roof, caused the wall to separate from the roof and part of the façade ended up in the roadway and water poured into the building," Uxbridge Police Chief Marc Montminy told NBC10 Boston. Informed by severe weather conditions, the authorities swiftly evacuated the building, temporarily uprooting lives amidst the chaos.
The storm damaged a building with homes and businesses, leaving its structure unstable and residents and owners facing uncertainty. Kevin Quinlan, an Uxbridge lawyer with an office inside the damaged edifice, remarked to NBC10 Boston, "I know there were a lot of families that lived upstairs. There was a family right above my office that just had a young child and I know it’s gonna be tough this time especially."
However, the reach of the storm went beyond Uxbridge boundaries, causing widespread disruption. In Brockton, the deluge turned streets into rivers, trapping families in their vehicles until the fire department conducted a water rescue. Numerous downed trees and wires warranted emergency responses in multiple towns, such as Cohasset and Easton, where police shut down roads to manage the situations, as mentioned in a report from WHDH. Even Boston wasn't spared, with the Ted Williams Tunnel falling victim to indoor flooding.
In Uxbridge, officials have not provided a reopening timeline as the building's future remains uncertain. Safety measures like tarps and tape serve as warnings to passersby. "I’ll work from home," Quinlan said, his law practice momentarily paused by an act of nature. "I’m told we are not allowed to enter until it’s at least surveyed by an engineer," as reported by NBC Boston. Until then, roads remain closed, and the people's lives are paused, hanging on the promise of recovery and reinstatement.
