More Plum Island Homes In Danger After Storm

Newbury's building inspector says as many as 40 shoreline homes on Plum Island are in danger following a storm last week that knocked down two houses and has forced the bulldozing of a third.

Two homes knocked off their foundations last week were torn down over the weekend and a third was scheduled for demolition on Monday.

Building inspector Sam Joslin says three other houses suffered significant structural damage in the storm and may eventually have to be demolished.

And, according to town Administrator Tracy Blais, "as of today there are 13 homes that are posted for no occupancy, so the owners cannot get into those houses until some engineering has been done to determine whether or not they're safe."

Republican state Sen. Bruce Tarr, whose district includes Plum Island, has called on state and federal officials to take action and protect the remaining homes, some of which were hundreds of yards from the shore when they were built years ago. Years of erosion have put them on the water's edge.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom