Overview
- Heavy storms last week flooded Oakley, Hyde Park and Norwood, sending up to six feet of water down some streets and leaving homes and shops badly damaged.
- Mayor Aftab Pureval issued a formal declaration of emergency Tuesday night to seek state and federal recovery funds and to speed local relief efforts.
- City engineers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have begun an investigation into reports that the Duck Creek floodgate did not close during Friday's heavy rain and whether that affected neighborhood flooding.
- Pureval joined cleanup crews on the ground, pledged targeted infrastructure fixes using proceeds from the recent railroad sale, and said the city is working with federal and state partners on grant and aid options.
- Residents and business owners said aging, commingled sewer systems worsen the risk of repeat flooding, and city officials say they are developing a longer-term plan and a damage-assessment process that will guide aid and repairs.