New England Flooding

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credit: AP

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Londonderry FD water rescue

Latest Information

More than seven inches have already fallen so far, but the rainfall that's blanketed the region appears to be letting up. National Weather service meteorologist Butch Roberts says bands of precipitation continue to spiral towards Northern New England, but rain doesn't look to be heavy in the hardest hit regions. Roberts expects thunderstorms to remain a possibility through tomorrow afternoon, and says occasional showers could persist through the weekend.

Governor Lynch has declared a state of emergency because of the widespread flooding, and has asked President Bush to declare a federal disaster in New Hampshire.

About 420 National Guard troops have been deployed, mostly to Manchester and surrounding communities. They are assisting with traffic control near damaged roads, helping to reinforce dams, and assist in evacuating flooded areas.

New Hampshire Transportation officials say most the interstates and other major roads are open, but they're worried about local roads that have been damaged by flood waters. The Department of Transportation's Bill Boynton warns that in many cases the roads under water may be severly damaged. See current road conditions at 511nh.com

Jim Van Dongen of the Department of Safety says the state is actively monitoring at least a dozen dams. Several rivers are also near flood stage.

Hundreds of schools across the state have announced they will be closed or opening late Monday. View list of closings at WMUR.com

Several shelters have opened around the state for people driven from their homes because of flooding. They can be found in Wakefield, Salem, Derry, Goffstown, Bedford, Pittsfield, Epsom and Canaan.

Officials in Somersworth have declared a water emergency because the city's water treatment plant has flooded. Residents are being asked to conserve water and boil water before drinking.

The Department of Environmental Services is urging residents in flooded areas to take precautions to protect their drinking water. Officials say flooding can contaminate wells with material from septic systems as well as oil and other chemicals. They urge private well owners in flooded areas to boil all drinking water and have their well water quality tested following the floods.

Last update: 5/15, 6:41 pm

source: NHPR.org

An overview of flooding in Massachusetts

By The Associated Press  |  May 15, 2006

SCOPE: The flooding has affected 30 to 40 cities and towns, with the Merrimack Valley north of Boston on the New Hampshire border hit hardest. More than 1,000 people have been evacuated statewide, and hundreds of roads closed, including Route 1 north of Boston.

SEWAGE: The sewage treatment plant on Deer Island in Boston Harbor is processing a record 1.3 billion gallons of waste a day, up from its typical load of 350 million gallons. A sewer line break in Haverhill is dumping 35 million gallons of sewage a day into the Merrimack River.

FEDERAL HELP: Gov. Mitt Romney says he plans to ask that the region be declared a federal disaster area, but he is waiting until officials have a better sense of damages. He said the state would easily meet the $7 million threshold.

Flood Warning Update

FLOOD STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

TAUNTON MA 205 PM EDT MON MAY 15 2006

...A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE ASSABET RIVER...CHARLES RIVER... CONCORD RIVER...CONNECTICUT RIVER... FARMINGTON RIVER...MERRIMACK RIVER... NASHUA RIVER...PAWTUXET RIVER... PISCATAQUOG RIVER...SHAWSHEEN RIVER... SOUHEGAN RIVER...SPICKET RIVER... SUDBURY RIVER...

FOR THE SPICKET RIVER THIS INCLUDES METHUEN. FOR THE MERRIMACK RIVER THIS INCLUDES GOFFS FALLS...NASHUA... LOWELL...LAWRENCE... HAVERHILL. FOR THE PISCATAQUOG RIVER THIS INCLUDES GOFFSTOWN.

FOR THE SHAWSHEEN RIVER THIS INCLUDES WILMINGTON. FOR THE CONNECTICUT RIVER THIS INCLUDES HARTFORD...MIDDLETOWN.

FOR THE FARMINGTON RIVER THIS INCLUDES SIMSBURY. FOR THE SOUHEGAN RIVER THIS INCLUDES MERRIMACK. FOR THE ASSABET RIVER THIS INCLUDES MAYNARD. FOR THE NASHUA RIVER THIS INCLUDES EAST PEPPERELL.

FOR THE SUDBURY RIVER THIS INCLUDES SAXONVILLE. FOR THE CONCORD RIVER THIS INCLUDES LOWELL. FOR THE CHARLES RIVER THIS INCLUDES DOVER. FOR THE PAWTUXET RIVER THIS INCLUDES CRANSTON.

RAINFALL OF 6 TO 12 INCHES FELL OVER THE BOSTON AREA THROUGH NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS...AND SOUTHEAST NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING ALONG THE MERRIMACK RIVER.

FLOODING IS ALSO OCCURRING ALONG LARGER TRIBUTARIES OF THE MERRIMACK RIVER.

Edited May 16, 2006 by hoss

[PC414 0]

I'm currently stuck in Essex County, MA - not many miles south of the NH border. Last report I saw on NENC for Topsfield (town next door) was 11.95 inches of rain with up to three more expected by Noon on Tuesday.

This has been an amazing experience. Helped fill some sandbags with local FD for the top of an earthen dam about to be breached - fortunately within walking distance and something to do 'cause we ain't driving back to Dutchess for a day or two yet with dozens of local roads still flooded.

PC414

[Guest]

Ipswich River in North Reading, Mass.

credit: AP

PC414, is that you in the pic ????.... Anyway, great job helping out the local FD up there and stay dry and safe !!

H.

Edited May 16, 2006 by hoss