In Peabody, officials form a plan to keep downtown dry
But some have had enough and are moving on
PEABODY -- Tracy Wahbeh is hoping it will be a dry Mother's Day. She is hoping that today will be nothing like last year, when the Goldthwaite Brook overflowed next to her house, creating a lake in her neighborhood and leaving more than 5 feet of water in her basement.
Peabody Mayor Michael Bonfanti also is hoping for a dry day, and since last year's flood in Peabody Square -- the fifth major flood in the city since 1996 -- Bonfanti has lobbied state and federal officials for funds to fix the city's problems.
Last month, his persistence paid off. Governor Deval Patrick came to Peabody to personally deliver a $2 million check for a major flood mitigation project. The $2 million will be combined with $3 million of city funds for the first phase of an $18 million project.
The overflow occurs when the Goldwaithe and Proctor brooks converge underneath Peabody Square during heavy rains.
The first phase, which will cost $5 million, will be to widen the North River, which carries water from the brooks and empties into Salem Harbor. That project will begin in the coming months and be completed next year.
"It's going to help reduce the severity and frequency of the flooding," said Bonfanti.
Shortly after last May's flood, the city began spending more than $1 million to help widen and remove debris from the two brooks. Still, in March, Wahbeh came home one rainy day to find her neighborhood flooded again, and more than 2 feet of water in her basement.
These days, Wahbeh and her husband, George, are busy painting and fixing up the four-bedroom house they bought almost three years ago. At the time, they didn't know about flooding in Peabody Square. It was only after they moved in that they learned about the past floods from their neighbors. And, after going through the experience of watching their house being surrounded by several feet of water, they have had enough. Come summertime, there will be a for sale sign on their lawn.
"I'm practically being forced out of the house because we don't want to run the risk of being flooded again," said Wahbeh.
After last year's flood, Wahbeh had to replace all the appliances in the basement, as well as the furnace and water heater. The couple had no flood insurance, and spent more than $30,000 to replace the lost goods. After the flood, they took a loan from the Small Business Association, which required them to obtain flood insurance. The insurance came in handy in March when their basement flooded again and they lost another furnace.
Wahbeh said she is glad the city is planning to fix the flooding problem but is tired of worrying about a flood every time it rains. The couple and their son Jacob, 2, plan to stay in Peabody but will look for a house on higher ground.
"I hope it works," she said of the city's flood mitigation project. "But when it all happens, I'm hoping not to be where I am."
