Crushing Deluge Damage In Leominster Could Take Weeks To Fix: Mayor

LEOMINSTER, MA — It could be weeks before the damage in Leominster is fixed after the area got nearly 9 inches of rain in a few hours Monday night, devastating homes, businesses, and roadways, Mayor Dean Mazzarella said in a news conference Wednesday.

The north side of Route 13 at Main Street is now open but it will likely be days before you can take a left onto Hamilton Street, according to Mazzarella. Those who are looking to travel on upper Pleasant Street are being urged to use Union Street instead due to sinkholes. Troopers are appointed across town to help redirect traffic as officials attempt to complete clean up needed to open at least one lane of every closed road.

As it stands now, the estimated cost of infrastructure repair is projected to reach $25 to $40 million.

"We're trying to work on what assistance we can get to our businesses and our homeowners," Mazzarella said. "Homeowners are finding out that in many cases they're not covered with insurance, so we're trying to help them out."

Hours of torrential rain and a dark night of rapidly rising waters gave way to the sobering daylight aftermath on Tuesday of a maze of washed-out roads, flooded intersections, uninhabitable homes, closed streets, and sinkholes across Leominster and surrounding communities in North Central Massachusetts.

"There's nothing worse than opening your door ... and you lose everything," Mazzarella said. "Same thing happened to me ... there's nothing you can do. You lose everything. You're standing there and your inventory, your pictures, things that were important to you, and things that you were going to pass off to another generation. All gone."

Schools in Leominster were closed on both Tuesday and Wednesday, the MBTA Commuter Rail imposed shuttle service from the Shirley stop through Wachusett indefinitely because portions of the foundation below the elevated tracks were washed out and Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency while pledging to seek federal funding for the cleanup.

Mazzarella said in a news conference Tuesday morning that it was "a miracle" there were no fatalities given the sudden rise of water with virtually no warning.

To donate to the Leominster Relief Fund, you can send a check made out to the Leominster Relief Fund or stop by the mayor's office at 25 West Street to donate by cash or check.