Thunder storms rolled through eastern Massachusetts Saturday dumping rain and leaving crews scrambling. The National Weather Service in Taunton issued a Flash Flood Warning as a result of the torrential rains that dumped from 2 to 3 1/2 inches of rain. The storms came on the tail end of another 90 degree day and caught motorists off guard. The unexpected rains left fire fighters and police officer scrambling to deal with rapidly rising waters in tunnels and other low-lying areas.
More details after the break
In Boston flooding forced the closure of Storrow Dr between the Longfellow and Harvard bridges. Throughout the city, especially near the water, there were multiple reports of street flooding making them impassable.
Somerville took the brunt of the storm, and is still feeling the effects of the water. Police Headquarters were flooded out as a result of the rains. The City of Somerville’s website states that police are operating out of the West Neighborhood Police Substation and does not give a timetable for officers to move back.
A dramatic rescue was made by an off duty Somerville fire fighter when he noticed several cars stuck with flood waters rising rapidly. The fire fighter jumped into action and pulled a woman from her rapidly sinking car. Massachusetts State Police officers also responded to the underpass on the McGrath Highway (Rt. 28) at Assembly Square and rescued several other sinking motorists. The troopers, along with the victims, had to be decontaminated due to raw sewerage in the water and then transported to area hospitals. Despite the danger, no one was seriously injured in the water.
