THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JAnUAry 26, 2024 Page 3 They got fl ooded with 911 calls it was a challenging Saturday for police and fi refi ghters Here’s what police offi cers and fi refi ghters at the Public Safety Offi ce saw as they looked outside the Public Safety Building on Hamilton Street on Saturday, Jan. 13. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charlie Zapolski) By Mark E. Vogler S augus police and firefighters didn’t have to go very far around noon on Saturday, Jan. 13 when the town encountered the worst of the fl ooding. If they were on duty at the town’s Public Safety Building on Hamilton Street, all they had to do was look out the window and see the water rising over the street – which got so bad that police had to block it off for about four hours. “I saw a couple of dumpsters fl oating behind the barber shop,” Saugus Fire Chief Michael C. Newbury said as he refl ected on the sights and sounds of what he observed from what he considers one of the worst fl ooding events he’s worked on during his 25 years with the Fire Department. “I talked to a homeowner who said he’s been here 40 years and that this was the worst…If a homeowner says it’s the worst time, 10 times out of 10, you’d take him at his word,” the chief said. Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli, another public safety offi cial who has spent his career in his hometown, agreed with Chief Newbury that it was one of the worst fl ooding days he’s witnessed. “It’s right up there with the Blizzard of ’78 and the 2018 storm,” Chief Ricciardelli said. “We [police] and the Fire Department were pretty busy overall on Saturday,” he said. Public safety dispatchers were fl ooded with 911 emergency calls during the peak of the fl ooding, which forced the Police Department to set up roadblocks on Hamilton Street and down on Route 107 for about four hours. “Revere police ended up doing the same on their side [of Route 107], Chief Ricciardelli said. The Saugus Firefi ghters Local 1003 Facebook page summarized the challenge faced repeatedly by local responders: “Today, Saugus Firefi ghters Local 1003 along with Saugus Police Department and the DPW, responded to MULTIPLE calls on the east side due to fl ooding from the overfl owing high tide. “Flooded neighborhoods made it hard for apparatus to get to some of these calls, making them walk through the water, some of which was FLOODED | SEE PAGE 4 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Private Parties Private Parties 4-7 p.m. $9.00 12-9 p.m. 7:30-11 p.m. $10. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
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