Winter Storm: Swampscott Information Center

Stay up to date with the latest on Friday's winter storm and flooding.

6:58 a.m. — Two-hour delay for Swampscott schools. 7:10 a.m. — Water coming on to road in the area of 154 Puritan. Impassable. 7:30 a.m. — Reports of flooding on Humphrey by King's Beach. 7:31 a.m. — The state has parts of Lynn Shore closed off due to flooding. 7:32 a.m. — The King's Beach section of Humphrey Street is flooded. DPW is closing it. 7:57 a.m. — Report of motor vehicle stuck in the road at Redington and Rockland. 8:02 a.m. — All Bus Routes experiencing 20-25 min delays due to slippery road conditions and weather related problems.  8:06 a.m. — Newbury/Rock 158 07:00 AM IB experiencing 10-15 min delays due to weather conditions. 8:10 a.m. — Report of silver car floating in water on Humphrey near Lynn line. The driver is …

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Heavy Wet Snow and Surging Tides Appear Headed Our Way

A coastal storm could dump heavy wet snow and bring beachside flooding between Thursday and Friday in Swampscott.

  The National Weather Service has issued winter storm and coastal flood watches for Swampscott and parts of Essex County in the coming days. A coastal storm could generate heavy wet snow and high winds and churn storm surges to 3 feet from late Wednesday night through Friday morning. Offshore waves will likely climb to 25 to 30 feet and surging tides could cause coastal flooding. It is still early to for forecasters to project snow totals for Swampscott but early estimates say the March storm could deliver 2- to 8-inches. The snow is expected to be the heavy wet variety that can bring tree limbs down on power wires and knock out electricity.    

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UPDATED: Storm Surge, Large Waves Prompt Coastal Flood Watch for Swampscott

The coming blizzard won't just bring snow — Saturday morning's high tide could potentially damage shoreline homes, the National Weather Service said.

The blizzard expected to begin Friday evening may crescendo into flood damage come Saturday morning. Several areas along the Swampscott waterfront are susceptible to flooding, says town DPW Director Gino Cresta. They include Humphrey Street from the Lynn line to Monument Avenue; on Puritan Road from Fisherman's Beach to Smith Lane; and on Atlantic Avenue from Beach Bluff to the Marblehead line. The National Weather Service has declared a coastal flood watch for the entire Massachusetts coast line — including Swampscott. You've probably heard about the coming storm that's expected to dump one to two feet of snow on much of the state. But early Thursday morning the Weather Service added the flood watch to the blizzard watch already in effect…

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Pond Dredging Expected in Spring

The Conservation Commission approved the dredging of two ponds, work intended to improve drainage for Vinnin Square businesses and those who live nearby.

  The Conservation Commission has approved two dredging projects at Tedesco golf course, flood-control work intended to improve drainage. The commission approved dredging a pond by the 11th hole and a smaller pond on the other side of Salem Street, by the 8th hole's tee, said Public Works Director Gino Cresta, who is also a Conservation Commission member. Tedesco will finance the dredging of the smaller pond, and is expected to use the same contractor the town chooses for dredging the larger pond, he said. The flood protection is intended for Vinnin businesses and nearby residents including those who belong to the Hawthorne Brook Neighborhood Association. The town project will go out to bid in the next week or so with work expected within …

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Tedesco Dredging Before Conservation Commission

The members are scheduled to take up notices of intent to dredge two ponds on opposite sides of Salem Street.

  Conservation Commission members have reviewed plans to dredge a Tedesco golf course detention pond and, on Wednesday, are expected to sign a notice of intent for the work. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The members have also visited the pond, by the 11th hole, said Conservation Commission member Gino Cresta. Because the pond is a wetland, the dredging must be OK'd by the commission, which makes sure the project includes proper environmental precautions. The pond was designed to  help control flooding, but it has filled with vegetation and sedimentation and is operating at less than half, perhaps as low as 35 percent, of capacity, according to an environmental study by Rimmer Environmental and McKenzie Engineering. The project …

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David Arsenault

7:16 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Typical dig a hole. The dredging needs to be done because the pipes leading to the 4x8 culvert are inadequate. The town Hall folks need to: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDkQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dog35U0d6WKY&ei=clfSUI2_K-ex0QH2-oGIDg&usg=AFQjCNG8GmsIrnp0NlmiY_FOZEuVN0a1vQ & add a new line on the south bound side …   more ›

Updated: $40,000 Paradise Drainage Study Underway

The study summary outlines activities this year and early 2013.

(See the study summary at the bottom.) A lower Paradise Road drainage study is underway as the engineering contractor measures stormwater flow and collects video of drainage pipe conditions. The study and a solution can come none too soon for residents who live nearby and regularly combat flood water to protect their homes. On Tuesday, crews from Kleinfelder engineering were collecting video of the 36-inch drainage pipe below Paradise Road near the intersection with Swampscott Avenue, said DPW Director Gino Cresta. They are collecting video from other locations in the network of drainage pipes. Also, for the past five to six weeks, underground meters have been collecting information about the flow of stormwater piped from that section of …

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David Arsenault

11:20 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Sorry bad time, Just had surgery last Tue. I'm on facebook if you want to message.   more ›

Citizens Battle Leaf-Clogged Drains to Prevent Basement Flooding

Torrential rains from a thunderstorm drove fallen leaves to drains which clogged and resulted in pooled roadsides in several spots Tuesday.

  Wild rain and wind-stripped leaves sent neighbors with shovels and rakes to street sides in several Swampscott spots Tuesday night. They cleared leaves from roads and curbs and storm drains to relieve roadside pooling and prevent cellars from flooding and automobile accidents, they said. Aaron Reames spent at least three hours raking and shoveling at Paradise Road by Franklin Avenue. It was his second day in a row on drain duty. Monday night about 9:30 he was doing the same thing under a utility pole in front of his house when the transformer above blew. The explosion and sparks scared the wits out of him, he said. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, water streamed from three directions into the low spot at Franklin and Paradise by the trauma center…

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David Arsenault

5:11 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The Problem at the bottom of Franklin is that there are 3 surrounding hills consisting of a huge portion of swampscott which comes down to one small neighborhood that is receiving all the water. When it reaches us the only drain system is A-Backwards. Small 12" pipes leading to a 3' Pipe, back to a 12" pipe and then going back to a 3' Pipe. The flow gets chocked down and we flood starting after …   more ›

Eye on Sandy

Sandy Has The Town's Attention

Swampscott department heads are watching Sandy's track and reviewing possible storm responses.

  "Watchful waiting" are the words that describe what local officials are doing as Hurricane Sandy takes shape and tracks north, says Swampscott fire Chief Kevin Breen. At Wednesday's department head meeting Swampscott officials talked about the latest storm forecasts and models, and reviewed emergency shelter operations, the fire chief said. This morning they plan to do the same, he said. A little more than a year ago, Oct. 6, 2011, a perfect storm descended on Swampscott leading to widespread flooding. Some weather forecasters are saying New England could experience major flooding from Sandy. Over at the Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta has his crews crews servicing the department's wood chipper and sharpening their chain …

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Eye on Sandy

Eye On Sandy: Storm Tips From Mass Emergency

From having cash on hand to trimming back branches there are things you can do ahead of a dangerous storm.

  With the possible threat of Hurricane Sandy following a track that could have a major impact on New England early next week, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) recommends actions that people can take to minimize the potential damage from this storm.  “Early planning and preparation can be the key to your safety,” states MEMA Director Kurt Schwartz.  “It is important to use your time wisely and not wait until the last minute to ensure your family’s safety.” Here are some examples of steps you should be taking:   The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of…

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Swampscott Looks Back: A Year Since The Deluge

The early morning storm dumped an astonishing 5.5 inches of rain, most of it in a 90-minute period.

  It was a year ago last week in the predawn hours of Oct 4, that a massive storm parked over Swampscott. The October thunderstorm dropped about 5.5 inches of rain, most of it during a 90-minute period, according to George Allen's weather station above Fisherman's Beach Towns and cities around Swampscott got a good soaking — Boston received a little more than an inch of rain from the storm — but Swampscott was ground zero. Whole neighborhoods were deluged, their basements filled with water. In the following days and weeks came the clean-up from the flooding. Streets sides were heaped with soaked carpets, couches, toys, bedding, books, albums. You name it. FEMA came to document the losses but they were not widespread enough to trigger major…

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David Arsenault

3:03 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

36" drain pipe leading to 1/4mi of 12", Anything wrong/pic? http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=tropical%20storm%20sandy&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&ved=0CEEQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.accuweather.com%2Fen%2Fweather-news%2Ffuture-sandy-east-coast-tropic%2F546066&ei=NeiGUP2VM4-B0QGKkoCQDQ&usg=AFQjCNFGzk36CSIkO1udstr5OqZGkNmZVA   more ›