ANDOVER — Mary O'Dea wasn't taking chances when it came to the possible overflowing of the Shawsheen River near her Washington Park condominium on North Main Street.
In 2006, O'Dea, 75, had to buy all new furniture after her condo flooded during what has become known as the Mother's Day flood. So this time around, she rented a moving van and packed all her things, including carpets, dressers and tables.
"I don't need to be replacing the furniture. It's all new as of 2006," said O'Dea. "At least we have notice this time, I am hoping we don't get flooded but at this point I can't risk it."
The management of Washington Park prepared for flooding by placing sandbags around the property yesterday morning and advising all residents to leave voluntarily by 2 p.m. O'Dea said she will stay with her son on Dairy Lane until the floodwater recedes.
The Andover Fire Department, around 5:30 p.m., called for a complete evacuation of the complex and cut off utilities to some of the buildings. He said one of the entrances was impassible and was a safety hazard.
"The river is spreading across the whole property," said Andover fire Chief Michael Mansfield. "We've advised everyone to leave."
Shelly Smith, also a Washington Park resident, lifted all her furniture off the floor and moved some of her possessions into her car. "That is what they told us to do," Smith said.
She said she will most likely spend the night at her parents' house in Gloucester or at a hotel.
Around 2:30 p.m., the staff at Marland Place, a senior community on Stevens Street, deemed it necessary to evacuate all its residents and staff. Marland Place spokeswoman Amy Shuster said about 85 residents were taken to the Holiday Inn in Salem, N.H., and about 25 have decided to stay with family members.
"We will continue business as usual from the Holiday Inn until it is determined that the rising water is no longer a problem," said Executive Director Marilyn Stasonis in a prepared statement.
Several roads had to be closed due to flooding, including North Main Street at Shawsheen Plaza, South Main Street at the North Reading line, and portions of High Plain, Canterbury, Kenilworth, Haverhill, Woburn and River streets and Riverina Road.
The Fire Department was unable to help residents pump basements.
"We don't have enough resources," Mansfield said. "There are too many residents and too much water."
He said the department has assisted residents in turning off utilities, if needed.
Nursing home uses portable dam
LAWRENCE — Homes on Willow, Spruce and Myrtle streets were evacuated yesterday at noontime after the Spicket River overflowed its banks, quickly filling the basements of the multifamily homes with water. With electricity still on in homes, police and firefighters went door-to-door to 50 residences to evacuate residents.
"The water was actually coming right down the street and into the basements," said acting Fire Chief Brian Murphy.
City workers and the American Red Cross set up an emergency shelter at the nearby Arlington School.
Meanwhile, an 865-foot portable dam was wrapped around the Mary Immaculate Nursing/Restorative Center on Lawrence Street as protection against floodwater. Administrator Stewart Goff last night said the water wasn't anywhere near the dam yet, but was waiting to see what happened when the Spicket River crested overnight.
Mary Immaculate purchased the dam after the Mother's Day flood in 2006, which required the home's evacuation. Patients were sent to nursing homes all over the region while Mary Immaculate was repaired. Now, whenever there's the threat of a flood, the portable dam comes out.
"It's great planning on their part to have that ready to go," Murphy said.
The Holiday Inn Express on Winthrop Avenue (Route 114) was shut down yesterday after the Shawsheen River overflowed, backing up water in the hotel hallways and stairwells. Gas and electricity were severed to the hotel, Murphy said. However, he expected the hotel to reopen soon, noting that "it was designed for a flood area."
Firefighters last night were able to illuminate flooded areas using outdoor lamps loaned to them through a regional fire agreement.
Police, fire and city officials held emergency management meetings at the central fire station on Lowell Street, which yesterday doubled as the emergency operations center.
Another meeting is planned for 10 a.m. today to evaluate what happened overnight and to make plans for getting people back into their homes.
Murphy said Lawrence officials are concerned about the release of 1,235 gallons of water from Arlington Pond in Salem, N.H., into the Spicket River over the next few days.
Woman stranded in car
NORTH ANDOVER — Diana Nguyen, 58, left home around 11 a.m., and was on her way to work when she encountered floodwater just over the border in Boxford, on Lawrence Road.
She stopped before the pond-sized puddle and watched as several cars made it through, so she decided she could try it.
"I tried and got stuck," she said. "Then I tried to get out of my car, but it was too scary."
She was stranded in her car for nearly 30 minutes before being rescued by a crew from Trombly Towing of North Andover.
Trombly tow truck driver Jared Riccardi, who waded into the water to hook Nguyen's car to the wrecker, said her car was one of three vehicles towed from the site yesterday.
Police lamented that people were ignoring roadblocks at their own peril.
"Drivers should not ignore the barricades," said Sgt. Fred Soucy. "They are there for their safety."
Great Pond Road around Lake Cochichewick was closed in several low-lying locations.
The National Weather Service warned on its Web site that most flood-related deaths occur in automobiles.
"Do not underestimate the power of flood waters. Only a few inches of rapidly flowing water can quickly carry away your vehicle," the agency advised.
Family saves musical instruments
METHUEN — Linda DeCola got hit with a double-whammy — a tree from a neighboring yard fell onto the roof of her sunroom Sunday night, and her basement flooded.
While the tree did not go through the roof, the roof was leaking and she placed buckets in the sunroom to catch the water.
DeCola, her daughters Colleen, 17, and Krista, 24, and one of Colleen's friends were watching a figure skating movie, when all of a sudden, crash," DeCola said.
She said the basement was becoming damp about 7 p.m., so she put down towels to absorb the moisture.
"Those same towels are now floating," she said.
About 1 a.m. yesterday, Krista and her brother Andrew, 19, carried two drum kits, along with other musical equipment belonging to Andrew, from the basement to the safety of the living and dining rooms.
In the basement yesterday, Linda DeCola stood in water over her ankles and said she would try to have the water pumped out.
Elsewhere in Methuen, a section of Maple Street running off Hampstead Road was closed after the street flooded. And a portion of Union Street was closed while tree workers took down a tall pine tree that had begun to lean toward some wires.
Staff writers Jill Harmacinski, Jonathan Phelps, Bill Kirk, Jim Patten, and J.J. Huggins contributed to this report.
