Officials to tour flood damage in Merrimack Valley

Officials are scheduled to tour flood damage in the Merrimack Valley after serve weather swept through the region on Tuesday.

North Andover is preparing for another wet and potentially damaging weather today. The community has already declared a local state of emergency after Tuesday’s storms flooded several areas.

Congressman Seth Moulton will be touring this area today to see the extent of the damage firsthand. This area got hit particularly hard because a pond was already full, and Tuesday was the tipping point.

Water gushed out of Jaime’s Restaurant in North Andover as heavy rains caused nearby rivers and ponds to fill up and flow over. Owner Jaime Faria says they survived Covid and the Merrimack Valley gas explosion but he says this damage is extensive and he’s not sure if he can come back from this one.

“This is a little different. Everything else I came back from. This is a lot of money to fix this,” said Faria.

In the meantime, his staff has been at the restaurant, helping him clean up while he figures out what to do next.

North Andover declared a local state of emergency and the hope is that will help secure some federal aid. The nearby Shawsheen River crested overnight and with more rain today, people here are holding their breath.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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