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Thousands ordered out as water strains Mass. dam
By Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY
Thousands of people were ordered to stay away from their homes in Taunton, Mass., on Tuesday as a 173-year-old wooden dam strained to keep floodwaters from washing through the city.If the 12-foot-high Whittenton Pond Dam collapses, a 6-foot wall of water could sweep through parts of Taunton, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rains for several days the Taunton area received more than 7 inches over the weekend have swollen the Mill River behind the dam. "It's a dangerous situation," Mayor Robert Nunes said.
Streets in downtown Taunton, a city of about 56,000 people 38 miles south of Boston, were closed, patrolled by police and the National Guard. About 2,000 people were urged to evacuate Monday, and firefighters went door-to-door Tuesday, advising residents of vulnerable neighborhoods to flee, Nunes said. Schools canceled classes. A Red Cross shelter at a high school held about 60 people.
The dam's timber supports were a major concern as engineers monitored them for signs of failure. Some of the posts washed away early Tuesday. The dam vibrated as water poured over its top and through gaps, Nunes said.
more at the link http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-10-18-massdam_x.htm
By Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY
Thousands of people were ordered to stay away from their homes in Taunton, Mass., on Tuesday as a 173-year-old wooden dam strained to keep floodwaters from washing through the city.If the 12-foot-high Whittenton Pond Dam collapses, a 6-foot wall of water could sweep through parts of Taunton, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rains for several days the Taunton area received more than 7 inches over the weekend have swollen the Mill River behind the dam. "It's a dangerous situation," Mayor Robert Nunes said.
Streets in downtown Taunton, a city of about 56,000 people 38 miles south of Boston, were closed, patrolled by police and the National Guard. About 2,000 people were urged to evacuate Monday, and firefighters went door-to-door Tuesday, advising residents of vulnerable neighborhoods to flee, Nunes said. Schools canceled classes. A Red Cross shelter at a high school held about 60 people.
The dam's timber supports were a major concern as engineers monitored them for signs of failure. Some of the posts washed away early Tuesday. The dam vibrated as water poured over its top and through gaps, Nunes said.
more at the link http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-10-18-massdam_x.htm
