Climate change, development blamed for rapidly rising number of '100-year storms'
In their worst form, they were known as "100-year storms": catastrophes that occurred once a century and caused devastating floods.
And yet, in just the past four years, three times the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire have been hard-hit by storms that once came with interludes of decades between them.
The most recent deluge was last week, when residents of Andover and Lawrence were forced out of their homes as their properties became drenched and heavily damaged by the waters of the Spicket and Shawsheen rivers. In New Hampshire, residents of Salem and surrounding communities were also affected by the flooding.
A nor'easter dumped nearly 10 inches of rain on the Merrimack Valley from Saturday through Monday, creating scenes reminiscent of the Mother's Day floods of 2006 and their memorable encore in April 2007.
"It's becoming too common of an occurrence," said state Rep. Barry Finegold, D-Andover.
As officials tally the cost of the latest storm, people are wondering why these floods keep happening. And they want to know what, if anything, the region can do to prepare for the next onslaught. Click here to read the full story.
Flooding and public health issues
Mother Nature continues to give us challenges in protecting the public health in a number of different ways. The latest affront has been the recent nor'easter that deposited several inches of rain in our yards and disrupted travel around the region. Disasters such as these have several public health implications.
One serious implication is that many peopleClick here to read the full story.
Click here to view photos from the region.
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Most roads in the area have reopened
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Closing of Route 114 in Middleton affects M. Valley commuters
Some roads still closed this morning as rivers slowly recede
As sun shines, water slow to recede; some residents still can't go home
No flood insurance? You may be out of luck
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Flooded roads turn to ice rinks, causing accidents all over M. Valley
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Shawsheen threatens Washington Park, Marland Place
Residents forced to flee homes in Andover, Lawrence
Plum Island home in danger of collapse
North Andover firefighters busy pumping flooded basements
Route 28 in N.H. shut near Rockingham Mall
How to deal with flooding
- Call your insurance agent. There is often no coverage for damages, but it's worth checking.
- Tell your agent if flood prevention devices, like sump pumps, failed.
- Wash your hands if you come in contact with floodwater. The water is contaminated.
- Disinfect your basement floor and other surfaces that have come into contact with the water. A mix of water and bleach works.
- Throw out or disinfect carpets, mattresses and upholstered furniture that have been wet.
- Throw away food that has come into contact with the water.
- Use heavy doses of lime to disinfect yards contaminated by sewage.
SOURCE: Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
To view additional videos on the storm playlist, click on the left or right arrows.
View Merrimack Valley Flooding in a larger map
| HISTORICAL CRESTS OF LOCAL RIVERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Merrimack River at Lawrence Flood stage is 20 feet |
Shawsheen River at Wilmington Flood stage is 7 feet |
Spicket River at Methuen Flood stage is 8 feet |
| 39.30 ft on March 21, 1936 | 10.5 ft expected at 2 a.m. Tuesday | 12.14 ft on May 16, 2006 |
| 31.40 ft on Sept. 23, 1938 | 10.49 ft on Oct. 22, 1996 | 10.6 ft expected Tuesday |
| 28.80 ft on May 15, 2006 | 9.87 ft on March 23, 2001 | 9.07 ft on March 24, 2001 |
| 24.60 ft on April 6, 1960 | 9.85 ft on Jan. 26, 1979 | 9.04 ft on April, 18, 2007 |
| Expected at 8 a.m. Tuesday at 23.2 feet | 9.03 ft on June 15, 1998 | 8.83 ft on April 3, 2004 |
| 8.94 ft on May 15, 2006 | 7.54 ft on May 27, 2005 | |
Gov. Patrick declares state of emergency
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick has declared a state of emergency as three days of relentless rain closed roads and spilled rivers and streams over their banks in Massachusetts.
The National Weather Service reports the storm bringing wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour has dropped more than 8 inches of rain on some areas of the state, with another inch or two expected on Monday.
State highway officials reported numerous road closures, including on U.S. Route 1 in Topsfield where the Ipswich River flooded the roadway, as well as Route 28 in Andover and a number of side streets.
Workers threw up sand bags around the entrance to a subway station near Boston's Fenway Park as the Muddy River rose to 15 feet and threatened to flood the station.
The Wilmington train station was closed during the morning commute, causing delays for rail commuters on the Haverhill and Lowell lines.
The Massachusetts Port Authority said the weather was causing some delays and cancellations at Logan International Airport.
