Heavy Rain Causes Problems North Of Boston

Heavy rain caused problems for several North Shore communities Tuesday.

Peabody, Swampscott and Lynn were pounded by rain, which flooded streets and stranded some cars. Peabody declared a state of emergency and closed schools Tuesday.

Peabody resident Tessa Marcaurelle said she found several cars stranded under about 3 feet of water on her way in to work at City Hall Tuesday.

"I sort of got here via back routes and I have a Jeep, so I didn't have to forage any water to get here," Marcaurelle said.

"It has been absolutely ridiculous, cars all over the road, submerged in the water, and we're just trying to keep up on everything," said Lynn's Carmen Gauda to WCVB-TV.

The mayor of Salem, Kim Driscoll, said she's never seen anything like the flooding she discovered when she woke up Tuesday morning.

"Driers floating, cars lost that were parked in front of homes, you name it," Driscoll said. "It's hard for residents who felt there was no time to prepare. No one expected it to be as fast and furious as it was."

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency spokesman Peter Judge said that once the waters fully recede, residents should try to clean up quickly.

"Once you do pump that water out, you want to get your basements cleaned up as soon as possible," Judge said. "You don't want to let mold set in and cause other problems down the road."

State officials say it could take a week to determine exactly how much damage was done by the rain in Essex County.