LAWRENCE, MASS. (WHDH) - Cleanup efforts began Tuesday morning after overnight flash flooding damaged cars in Lawrence, prompting a rescue mission from a flooded street.
Lawrence Fire said they rescued four people from a submerged car under the Parker Street Bridge. Crews helped people escape the car with an inflatable boat.
Water also overtook cars in other neighborhoods of Lawrence, leaving debris behind and forcing many to scoop the water from their cars one cup at a time. The flooding has since subsided, but cleanup efforts continued through people’s morning commutes.
“All of a sudden, the manholes were getting clogged up and the water started rising up, and the whole street was full of water,” said Fernando Acevedo, whose car was flooded. He added that the water in his basement rose up to near the gas meters.
“I’ve never seen this before,” said another resident. “I honestly didn’t know when it was gonna clear up. It cleared up maybe around 4 in the morning, 5 in the morning.”
Acevedo, however, said this is nothing new.
“Happens every year, October, November, once it hits a heavy rain, it’ll be all flooded over here,” he said.
Insurance adjusters are now assessing damage to cars throughout the area.
(Copyright (c) 2022 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)