Flash flooding closes Somerville police headquarters

(Photos by Lauren Ostberg)

Police command moved to West Somerville substation in Teele Square By George P. Hassett The city's police headquarters were evacuated today after the early afternoon flash flooding. City spokeswoman Jacqueline Rossetti said in a phone alert to city residents that safety crews are closing roads in the McGrath Highway, Assembly Square, Somerville Avenue and Washington Street areas. Residents are advised to limit driving until flood waters have subsided, she said.

Flash flooding has also forced the closure of the Somerville Police Headquarters, Rossetti said. The Police command center has been moved to the West Neighborhood Substation, located at 1154 Broadway in Teele Square. The East substation is also closed due to electrical outages.

911 service will continue as normal, and extra public safety officials have been deployed throughout the city, she said.

Comments

[Angela]

Why was there Fecal Matter coming up through the pipes > Why do we pay so much for sewer tax and then have to deal with this kind if stuff. Totaly disgusted it was gross. Hope the city looks into why this happened and deal with the mwra or reimburse everyone who had this happpen to them by lowering the sewer charges which by the way is a joke if this is gonna happen when we have this type of rain. It happened in my cellar sink and i hope it dosen,t ever happen again.

[Tom Walsh]

Angela, there was fecal matter in the pipes because parts of Somerville have ancient "combined" systems that do not separate sewer water from storm water. The catch basin outside my house is from 1889, for example. So, when we get enough rain to overload the storm drains, it's not just rainwater that comes back up. Cambridge, Boston and Chelsea have similar setups.

If anything, the sewer rates are higher *because* we have such a system -- that means that we have to process/treat a much higher volume of stuff than we would if we had a separated system.

As to your cellar sink: any drain in your house that's lower than the nearest catch basin should be protected by a "check valve". That's an inexpensive doohickey that allows water to flow out, but not to flow back in. http://www.google.com/products?q=sewer+check+valve

[bow street]

There is an obvious issue with area surrounding the police station. What would of taken place if the Green Line was under construction? Is this a result of the recent work completed on Somerville Avenue? Why should the police and fire be housed in thouse unsanitary conditions? At what point, does the city need to realize that East Somerville is under siege!