Hampton Beach, New Hampshire flooding emergency lifted after high waters recede
HAMPTON, N.H. – New Hampshire officials lifted a flooding emergency in Hampton Beach Wednesday evening after high waters that caused flooding earlier in the day receded.
Ocean Boulevard and side roads were shut down for hours as crews cleared seafoam, seaweed and other debris from the incoming water.
"Please avoid the area. If you live in the area we recommend you temporarily leave the area for higher ground," Hampton police said. An evacuation shelter was opened in the gymnasium at Hampton Academy.
Flood waters could be seen in several neighborhoods near the Hampton Beach strip. In total, firefighters rescued 15 people, most of whom called as the rising seawater started tripping their electricity.
"Understandably, folks get nervous when they start hearing things pop in their walls," said Hampton Fire Chief Michael McMahon.
Andy Winde was still pumping water from his basement Wednesday night after his front yard was turned into a swimming pool. "It's beach living that's what happens," Winde said.
Though his floors are damp and need repair, he's more concerned about the looming weekend forecast. "I'm just worried more about towards the end of the weekend, we'll see how this new moon thing and astrological high tides," he said.
Officials said it's rare that three out of five miles of beach were overtopping with water. "There's no more capacity to store all that water when you have all that snow melt and all that rain and then you get high tide coming in from both sides of the beach," McMahon said.
Stacey Hughes came to the oceanfront to get a look at the powerful waves. "I was just walking toward the entrance and it was coming at me. I was like 'Wow that was like movie stuff right there," Hughes said.
In nearby Salisbury, several areas of the Massachusetts beach town are impassable, including Beach Road near Reservation Road. Ferry and March roads are flooded and impassable.
"Please do not attempt to drive around barricades or through standing water as it could be much deeper than it looks and could disable your vehicle," Salisbury police posted.
