A contractor’s storage container falls into a large ravine as parts of Canal Road in Westfield washed away after heavy rains hit the area Friday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – What began as an early morning drizzle continued throughout the day before turning into a torrential rainstorm by early afternoon Friday, flooding many streets in the Whip City.
“The streets are basically shutting themselves down,” said a desk officer at the Westfield Police Department around 1:30 p.m.
Reports of the heaviest flooding at that time were occurring on Dartmouth Street and Mainline Drive.
“It’s very wet, and the flooding isn’t slowing up,” said Sgt. Edward Murphy.
Westfield’s Director of Emergency Management Jim Wiggs concurred with the sergeant.
“It’s staying fairly consistent,” Wiggs said of the rain, which only stareted slowing down considerably by 2 p.m.
When asked about the possibility of more rain coming soon, Wiggs didn’t rule it out.
“I’m not a meteorologist, but from what I’m hearing, there’s rain coming down in Rochester which could head our way,” he said.
Wiggs advised residents to stay home unless absolutely necessary.
A manhole covers bubbles up on Canal Road in Westfield as residents and city officials watch. Minutes later the roadway started to undermine causing a portion of the road to collapse. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
“If you don’t have to go out, stay home,” he said. “And if you need to travel, limit it as much as possible.”
All major routes through the city were experiencing traffic issues at different points during the day due to the rising waters.
The flooding got so bad that a woman driving a pickup truck on East Mountain Road had to be rescued under the train overpass near Springfield Road when her vehicle hydroplaned in the floodwater, which an officer blocking off the road near the Westfield Youth Services Center estimated was around four feet deep.
A Westfield police officer oversees the closed intersection of Springfield and East Mountain Road in Westfield after heavy rains Friday caused the intersection to flood. Emergency personnel were called to the scene earlier to assist a stranded motorist. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Several miles south on Route 202, Southwick fared the storm better than
Westfield, with minimal water problems.
Emergency Management Director Charles Dunlap said he was happy he had “nothing serious to report” Friday afternoon.
“The streams are bank full, but our bridges are good and we are doing well,” he said.
Dunlap said there was one flooded area of significance early on in the storm on College Highway near the intersection of Congamond Road.
“That was resolved quickly,” he noted.
Just before noon, Dunlap measured 3.1 inches of rainfall and said while he had not checked again once the rain stopped, he was sure there was a “substantial” increase in that measurement.
“I would have concern if it continued, but we’re looking at clear skies,” Dunlap said by late afternoon.
