Severe flash flooding impacted multiple Massachusetts communities Monday night, particularly Leominster, where a state of emergency was declared.
City officials warned people in Leominster to stay put if possible or get to higher ground as flash flooding overwhelms roads in the area. An emergency shelter was opened at Frances Drake Elementary School on Viscoloid Avenue. Public schools in the city will be closed Tuesday.
A flash flood emergency was put in place in the area. This is more severe than the flash flood warnings that have been issued for much of the state. This warns of the risk of "life-threatening flash flooding of low water crossings, small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses."
Fire officials said many vehicles were stuck, and people had to be rescued.
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Footage posted to social media appeared to show vehicles almost completely submerged on Route 2, which was closed in both directions.
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella's office declared a state of emergency and asked people to avoid travel. He said in a Facebook post that there is flooding across the city and that firefighters, police and other emergency volunteers have been called in to help.
"Stay off the streets. I'm amazed at how many people are on the roads. I know a lot of them are trying to get off the highway and get home, but some are just out there as spectators," Mazzarella told NBC10 Boston.
He said while people may be interested in what's happening and believe they can get through, there can be more water on the road than they expect — if the road is still there at all.
"There are roads that are washed out and you can't tell, cause you're seeing maybe what looks like a few inches of water, but there's a road that's washed out from underneath it," he said. "We've had tow trucks here all night long towing people out and rescuing people that end up in water that looks like it's six or eight inches — it ends up being two or three feet."
The fire department in nearby Princeton also asked people to stay home and avoid being on the road.
"We have already responded to multiple calls for people trapped in their cars," the Princeton Fire Department said in a statement posted to Facebook.
"There are catastrophic floods in the Leominster area and other communities across the state this evening," Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement Monday night. "My heart goes out to the impacted communities and public safety personnel.
To the southeast, North Attleborough's emergency operations team issued a notice to stay off roads and shelter in place until further notice. An emergency shelter was opened in the North Attleborough Middle School's gymnasium on Landry Avenue. People can call 508-699-6323 for assistance.
Leominster Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday due to the extensive flooding.
All trains on the Fitchburg Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail are starting and ending in Shirley, where a shuttle was available to bring passengers to points westward.
The Providence line was also affected by flash flooding, with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation noting that floodwaters had closed Route 1A in both directions in Attleborough. It has since reopened.
The Leominster area picked up between 2 to 2.5 inches of rain in about an hour, Meteorologist Tevin Wooten reports, and estimated rain for the day is nearing 7 inches or more.
Officials caution drivers to never try to ride through flooded roadways — water may be deeper than it appears, or may contain hazards like downed wires.
Viewer video from the area shows floodwaters overwhelming streets and flowing into yards. Flash flood warnings are in effect across the state. See a list of severe weather alerts here.
This is a breaking story. NBC10 Boston will provide updates as they come into the newsroom.
