Huntington roads reopen after flooding

HUNTINGTON, Mass. (WWLP) - The rain water had no where to go. Trees toppled from saturated ground, and roads washed out, limiting access in Huntington. The water has nowhere to go but down, but people here in Huntington are taking it all in stride.

If there's anyone who's got his finger on the pulse of Huntington, it's John Slattery, the Chef-Owner of Four Main Street Bar and Grille. He kept the restaurant open through Tropical Storm Irene so locals from Huntington and nearby Chester could have a place to go. And through rainstorm after rainstorm since, he says folks here have managed to stay upbeat. "The hilltown folks, we're tired of the rain but we're also pretty patient with Mother Nature because we know that everything comes in turn."

Thursday's heavy rains meant more washouts, more flooded roads, downed trees and even power outages. "I heard this big crack and apparently the tree right across from my house, it fell down on the power lines," said Desiree Brown.

Multiple roads were closed in Huntington and Chester as water poured down the hills, washing out culverts and clogging drains with mud and debris.

Crews in Huntington and Chester say it will take years for them to catch up on all the damage. But if there's an upside to all the destruction, it's the camaraderie shown between the neighboring towns.

"This is the first time the highway departments have really exercised the mutual aid agreements we have in place," said Huntington Police Chief Robert Garriepy. "Fire and police have always worked together very well, and in this storm the highway departments between Huntington and Chester actually teamed up and were able to get most of the roads open in a very short amount of time."

"That's the one thing I love about being in a small town. It's not necessarily always about 'oh the line stops here.' If I need help, I call, and they come, and vice versa," said Rene Senecal, Highway Superintendent of Chester.

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency tried to assess the damage earlier Thursday, however they will have to wait for dryer weather.