Heavy rains caused flash flooding across parts of Massachusetts Tuesday, with multiple cars being trapped in floodwaters.
In Merrimack Valley, homes were flooded, with roads being closed at the height of the storms.
WATCH ANYTIME FOR FREE
 |
>Stream NBC10 Boston news for free, 24/7, wherever you are. |
Abandoned cars and water as high as three feet could be seen through several Lawrence streets, including Parker Street, South Union Street, Grafton Street and Lowell Street.
Get updates on what's happening in Boston to your inbox. Sign up for our >News Headlines newsletter.
"I grabbed my broom. I thought I could contain it, but it was too much," said Thomas Colon as he swept the remaining floodwaters from his driveway.
Colon has lived in his home on South Union Street for nearly 35 years and says this was the worst flooding he's experienced. He says he came out to find both his trucks partially submerged in his driveway.
Along South Union Street, an abandoned car was parked in a nearby tunnel. Colon and one of his friends pried open a nearby storm drain and pushed the remaining water inside until the water drained from the street, revealing a mess of leaves and debris stuck to the car.
"Some of the sewers clogged up, and it's every bridge in Lawrence," said Jordami Gomez, who works just blocks away on Parker street, where the tunnel was blocked off with nearly three feet of water. "This is not the first time we've seen it a lot of people just try to attempt to go through it."
Moments later, Lawrence Mayor Brian De Peña arrived to Parker Street to survey the damage. He told NBC10 Boston that he plans to visit other hotspots throughout Lawrence including Salem Street. From there, he hopes to create a plan to minimize flooding in the future.
"I continue to support people," he said. "Any call is very important for me today."
A mill complex in North Andover was one of the places taking the brunt of Tuesday's torrential downpours.
At Jaime’s Restaurant, the staff was preparing for a busy day ahead when water started gushing inside.
"I could see it coming through the walls," said sous chef Christian Wallis. "We didn't know what to do, it is one of those things where you let Mother Nature take its course and let the water flow out."
A cafe and a toy store both got hit hard, as well.
Business owners at the mill say the water was coming from a nearby pond that breached and firefighters broke several windows to let the water gush through the businesses and across the street, rather than let the water level continue to grow higher and higher in and around the mill building.
"The water level in the basement was up to my waist," said Jaime Faira, owner of Jaime's Restaurant. "And every piece of equipment I have, refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, was just floating around."
North Andover wasn't the only community dealing with the aftermath of the torrential downpours.
In Needham, residents on Grant Street were unclogging storm drains when their neighborhood flooded.
"We saw all of the storm drains get blocked up so we came out with some rakes," said Neeedham resident Jason Dowling.
And countless homeowners had to clean up after water started rushing into their basements.
"We're making a lot of trips to the dump," said Alex Cullen.
Natick police said there was heavy flooding on Route 9 at Route 27, with multiple stranded vehicles. Motorists are being urged to avoid the area and to avoid driving through flooded roads.
Flooding was also reported on Route 9 in Wellesley.
Other areas of Wellesley also experienced serious flooding.
In Somerville, a driver had to be rescued from a flooded car on McGrath Highway.
Heavy flooding was also reported on Interstate 95 in the Newton-Needham area.
Wilmington police said Lowell Street was closed to all traffic from Woburn to Cross street due to heavy flooding in the roadway.
Route 9 in Framingham is also flooded out.
A car was also trapped in high water on Third Avenue in Needham, although other traffic was moving around it.
The MBTA reported at 11:17 a.m. that the Griggs Street station on the Green Line's B branch is temporarily closed due to flooding. All trains will bypass the station.
In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, firefighters reported that a tree was down amid a flash flood warning.
Road flooding was also reported in nearby Exeter, New Hampshire.
Flash flood warnings were issued for parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island. Three separate tornado warnings were also issued in Massachusetts but they have since expired.
