Communities in Monadnock Region clean up from flooding
State, local officials evaluate flood damage after heavy weekend rains
State, local officials evaluate flood damage after heavy weekend rains
State, local officials evaluate flood damage after heavy weekend rains
Communities throughout the Monadnock Region are cleaning up from the damage caused by the weekend's heavy rainfall.
Floodwaters from the Contoocook River rushed over North Bennington Road in Bennington on Sunday night.
"In the spring, this location does have a tendency of flowing over, and we do have to close it, but this time of the year, it's not a very common occurrence," said Keith Nason, director of Bennington Emergency Management.
While one homeowner on the street dealt with a flooded basement, officials said they were keeping the street closed until the water recedes.
"When the barricades are up and it says, 'Road closed,' don't try to go through that," Nason said. "It looks like you can go through, but just a few inches of moving water can pull your car into the river."
Further downstream, people were stunned by how high the water was over the weekend.
"Highest I've ever seen," said Norm Makechnie, of Peterborough. "It was flowing over the top of the dam by the bridge here."
Old Town Farm Road in Peterborough will require major repairs, officials said. The water caved in a long stretch of the roadside, dumping rocks and mud in a pasture below.
>> Related: Home evacuated in Swanzey due to flooding
"One of the issues that we're facing with this particular roadway is that it is a dead end road, so by having no way out at the other end, there are 18 residences and a little over 30 people who would be trapped if we were not able to keep this roadway open," said Fire Chief Ed Walker.
Hoses and pumps were humming all over Winchester, which sits along the Ashuelot River in some areas. The river was under a flood warning into Monday night.
"This morning, about 5 a.m. it started coming in the building and we've had volunteers here since then, vacuuming up water and getting it out of the inside," VFW Post 3968 quartermaster Jim Harrison said.
On Monday morning, the fire department helped place sandbags at doors around the building to help slow down the flooding. It was reminiscent of another flood for Harrison.
"'84 was the worst for a long time," he said.
Neighbors in Jaffrey faced a similar threat when high water cut off Letourneau Road.
"Our neighbor across the street who backs up to the property sent us a text and said it was wild out here, so we kind of came out thinking the water would be a little high but never expected to see water running across the street from this little brook," said Bill Goudreau, of Jaffrey.
"These two bridges are a concern, and we're working with our consultants to figure out the best course of action," said Jon Frederick, Jaffrey town manager. "We're going to be working with the state of New Hampshire, the Department of Environmental Services, as well as Homeland Security and Emergency Management."
Officials said the governor's office, along with state and local emergency management officials, is in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and a damage assessment will be done in the coming days.