State of emergency declared in Leominster as a consequence of ‘life-threatening’ flooding, colleges closed Tuesday

Amid thunderstorms and heavy rainfall Monday night, Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella declared a state of emergency as a consequence of in depth flooding within the metropolis.

Mazzarella introduced the state of emergency on Fb at 6:30 p.m. Round 7:45 p.m., Leominster Public Colleges Superintendent Paula Deacon introduced that metropolis colleges can be closed Tuesday due to the flooding.

Simply earlier than 9:40 p.m., Mazzarella posted on Fb that Francis Drake Elementary College at 95 Viscoloid Ave. had opened as an emergency shelter.

“When you don’t need to exit, don’t,” Mazzarella mentioned on Fb reside. “All of the streets are flooded.”

The Nationwide Climate Service reported simply earlier than 10 p.m. Monday that six to 9 inches of rain had fallen in northern Worcester County. A flash flood warning is in impact in Leominster, and close by communities Fitchburg and Lunenburg, till 8 a.m. Tuesday.

The service warned individuals within the space to maneuver to excessive floor and to not enter flooded roads.

“That is an especially harmful and life-threatening scenario. Don’t try to journey until you’re fleeing an space topic to flooding or underneath an evacuation order,” it wrote within the flood warning.

Images and video from the town confirmed flooded streets the place drivers wanted rescuing from their vehicles and backyards and vehicles submerged in water. Route 2 skilled notably dangerous flooding, and was closed in both directions Monday night.