Let's remember how bad it really was!
My general territory is in the Essex and Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts. We had a storm in May of 2006 which has been etched into history as the "Mother's Day Storm". The major storm actually started on Friday May 12th and continued through the weekend ending in the A.M. hours of Monday May 15th. When all was done this storm dumped up to a foot of rain in many areas in North East Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Adding to the problem were over flowing rivers and the prediction of more rain over the next week.
You can view slide shows from various Newspapers associated with the Lawrence Eagle Tribune to refresh your memory as to the damage done around Essex County. View Slide Shows
Not having water in your basement during this storm is a badge of honor and must be noted somewhere on your listing sheet. Buyers have grown weary of hearing that "the only time we ever got water was during the mother's day storm of 2006", the fact is that in most cases it's true.
As an active agent in this area, this storm is mentioned 5-10 times a week and you can never forget how historical it was. As with all things, time seems to minimize the impact that this storm had on our region and properties. As I write this, we are in the middle of a storm that will drop about 3-5 inches in the same area over a two day period. Here are a couple of reports to help put May of '06 into perspective.
WBZ the local CBS affiliate reported:
The "Mother's Day" storm contributed to historic rainfall totals for the month of May and stream flows for the record books. A federal disaster was declared, ensuring financial relief for flood victims. According to U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) flow measurements, the Merrimac River in Lowell was at its highest flood stage since the Hurricane of '38 and the third highest ever measured. Floods of this magnitude occur in this area every 40 to 150 years a once in a lifetime weather event.
Fema.gov reported:
Parts of Essex County north of Boston had received 17 inches of rain by Monday afternoon. The National Weather Service predicted an additional one to six inches by Wednesday, pushing rain totals near records set in 1936 and 1938.
Rivers are expected to crest at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday, flooding more neighborhoods.
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