Jul 2, 2009 5:36 pm US/Eastern
Rain Runoff Sends Torrent Through Sterling
STERLING (WBZ) ―
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Another flooded section of Meetinghouse Hill Road in Sterling.
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Smoke is seen moments after the steeple was hit by lightning.
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Another flooded section of Meetinghouse Hill Road in Sterling.
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Lightning struck this house on Rockwood Terrace in Medford Thursday morning, sparking a fire.
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Drivers on Storrow Drive couldn't avoid the large puddles on the road.
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Runoff from I-190 in Sterling sent a torrent through the yard of Neree Roseberry's home of 54 years at Stuart and Meetinghouse Hill Roads, washing out his driveway and leaving 3-foot chasms in the pavement.
His son, Henry Roseberry, says similar flooding has happened over the past 20 years or so, but this the worst they've ever seen.
The unwelcomed water cascaded down the Roseberry's driveway for several hours and looked like river rapids rushing down Meetinghouse Hill Road. Neighbors had to wade through the water to get out of their driveways. Roseberry says the runoff from Route 190 overwhelmed a small brook behind his house and should be diverted into a larger one.
"There's a brook over there that should be able to handle all that water," he explained pointing to the rushing water.
Watch: Raw Video - Sterling Flooding
The flash flooding crossed Meetinghouse Hill Road, finding its way into Debbie Brown's finished basement including her furnace. "It's frustrating because we've had problems with water running from 190 and blocking our driveway but this was the first time we've ever had it actually come into the house."
A spokesman for MassHighway tells WBZ this was purely weather-related and there's nothing the department could do because it was a flash flood; but they would fix Roseberry's driveway. WBZ's Ron Sanders found a MassHighway crew on I-190 trying to see if the drainage system was working as designed. Drains and a concrete trench alongside the road did not appear obstructed but the drainage system was apparently overwhelmed in the flash flood.
"I think they should fix it," said Neree Roseberry.
State Rep. Harold Naughton surveyed the situation and told WBZ he's happy MassHighway seems to be taking responsibility, but a contractor will look over the area next week, and Naughton is hopeful they'll fix it so it doesn't happen again.
There is a flash flood watch in effect for most of southern New England through Thursday evening.
Read: WBZ Weather Blog
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