Public officials and homeowners are assessing damage and cleaning up properties along the North Shore after last week’s winter storms caused significant flooding and destruction. The region experienced heavy rain, abnormally high tides, and powerful waves that flooded streets, swamped roads and parking lots, and damaged homes and infrastructure.
Residents in Salem described Saturday’s storm as the worst coastal flooding they had ever witnessed. During a tour of Salisbury Beach, Sen. Bruce Tarr expressed shock at the extent of the damage, noting that a significant amount of sand had been lost, and one section of dune was at risk of imminent collapse.
Local homeowner Phil Harty shared his experience, stating that Wednesday’s storm washed away exterior stairs and most of his deck, with Saturday’s storm causing further destruction. Despite continued efforts to clean up the area, Harty remains concerned about future flooding events and hopes for resources from the state to address the issue.
While private property owners will rely on insurance for repairs, local officials are seeking millions of dollars in state or federal funding to strengthen local dunes and provide residents with peace of mind. Salisbury Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Mike Colburn emphasized the importance of collaboration between the state, local officials, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to address residents’ concerns and ensure their safety.
Plum Island, located nearby, experienced flooding but not as much damage as Salisbury. The Army Corps of Engineers had previously added 200,000 cubic yards of sand to strengthen the dunes, but flooding remains a recurring issue.
The cost of repairing the local dunes in Salisbury is estimated to range between $1 and $3 million. However, residents are eager for more concrete plans and solutions to protect their homes.
As the cleanup continues and assessments are conducted, residents and officials remain hopeful that necessary support and funding will be provided. Efforts to reinforce the area’s defenses against future storms are crucial to mitigating the impact on homeowners and local infrastructure.
