Athol residents allowed to return home after ice jams spurred evacuation, but river could rise again
By
Paula J. Owen
Correspondent
Posted Jan 16, 2018 at 7:09 PM
Updated Jan 16, 2018 at 10:23 PM
ATHOL – All residents evacuated from Morton Meadows apartments
over the weekend because of ice jams in the Millers River can return
home, according to Athol officials, with the stipulation that they be
“ready and prepared for evacuation at any moment.”
Athol officials met Tuesday to discuss the continuing ice jams, the condition of the closed Exchange Street Bridge and the status of the remaining 15 residents displaced from the Morton Meadows apartments Saturday morning because of the threat of flooding.
The fire chief and other officials met with housing authority staff and decided to lift the mandatory evacuation order for “river side” units of the complex, Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski said.
“Yesterday, 11 residents living in buildings No. 1 and 2, the so-called ‘street side’ units, were allowed to return home,” Mr. Suhoski said Tuesday. “All residents have been provided with bags to have essentials ready to go if conditions change.”
Fire Chief John L. Duguay, the town’s emergency management director, is cautioning people to stay away from the edge of the river, because conditions could change rapidly, Mr. Suhoski said.
Callers to the Athol Housing Authority Tuesday morning were met with a message that all Morton Meadows resident could return home, and then, “However, please, be aware, they should be ready and prepared for evacuation at any moment.”
Christi M. Martin, executive director at the Athol Housing Authority, said in 19 years she has worked for the agency, this is the first time an evacuation of an authority property was required for ice jams.
“Tenants’ safety is our main priority. We’re asking anyone coming to the office to please be patient with us,” Ms. Martin said.
Some residents have decided not to return home until after the snowstorm forecast for Tuesday night and Wednesday, she added.
“Because of all the ice, who knows how long it will be before they are no longer concerned,” Ms. Martin said. “We’re telling them to have clothing on hand and medications close by in case there is another incident.”
Firefighters and town officials are carefully monitoring the Millers River after a mass of ice broke free early Saturday morning, jamming up parts of the river near bridges, causing damage and prompting the evacuation order as a precaution.
Firefighters oversaw the evacuation of nearly 30 residents, all senior citizens, from Morton Meadows.
Officials opened Town Hall as a shelter, and about 10 residents from the housing complex were using it. Others stayed with family or friends, or were moved to a local nursing home, or into housing arranged by the Athol Housing Authority and the United Way. No injuries were reported.
Planned releases of water at Tully and Birch Hill dams began Monday in an effort to free the ice jams and are being managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and town officials. Officials said the releases would cause fluctuations in the river’s levels and flow.
The Exchange Street Bridge will remain closed until inspectors from the state Department of Transportation declare it safe, Mr. Suhoski said.
Athol officials met Tuesday to discuss the continuing ice jams, the condition of the closed Exchange Street Bridge and the status of the remaining 15 residents displaced from the Morton Meadows apartments Saturday morning because of the threat of flooding.
The fire chief and other officials met with housing authority staff and decided to lift the mandatory evacuation order for “river side” units of the complex, Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski said.
“Yesterday, 11 residents living in buildings No. 1 and 2, the so-called ‘street side’ units, were allowed to return home,” Mr. Suhoski said Tuesday. “All residents have been provided with bags to have essentials ready to go if conditions change.”
Fire Chief John L. Duguay, the town’s emergency management director, is cautioning people to stay away from the edge of the river, because conditions could change rapidly, Mr. Suhoski said.
Callers to the Athol Housing Authority Tuesday morning were met with a message that all Morton Meadows resident could return home, and then, “However, please, be aware, they should be ready and prepared for evacuation at any moment.”
Christi M. Martin, executive director at the Athol Housing Authority, said in 19 years she has worked for the agency, this is the first time an evacuation of an authority property was required for ice jams.
“Tenants’ safety is our main priority. We’re asking anyone coming to the office to please be patient with us,” Ms. Martin said.
“Because of all the ice, who knows how long it will be before they are no longer concerned,” Ms. Martin said. “We’re telling them to have clothing on hand and medications close by in case there is another incident.”
Firefighters and town officials are carefully monitoring the Millers River after a mass of ice broke free early Saturday morning, jamming up parts of the river near bridges, causing damage and prompting the evacuation order as a precaution.
Firefighters oversaw the evacuation of nearly 30 residents, all senior citizens, from Morton Meadows.
Officials opened Town Hall as a shelter, and about 10 residents from the housing complex were using it. Others stayed with family or friends, or were moved to a local nursing home, or into housing arranged by the Athol Housing Authority and the United Way. No injuries were reported.
Planned releases of water at Tully and Birch Hill dams began Monday in an effort to free the ice jams and are being managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and town officials. Officials said the releases would cause fluctuations in the river’s levels and flow.
The Exchange Street Bridge will remain closed until inspectors from the state Department of Transportation declare it safe, Mr. Suhoski said.
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