LYNN — Hundreds of Lynn residents were evacuated from their homes over the weekend as sub-freezing temperatures caused a string of pipe bursts and power outages across the city.
Saturday evening, American Red Cross workers, firefighters, and Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development (LHAND) workers evacuated nearly 50 disabled and elderly residents living at Caggiano Plaza, an LHAND property at 174 South Common St.
Caggiano Plaza was one of more than 160 water calls that Lynn Fire responded to Saturday, nearly four times the department’s daily water break call volume, according to District Fire Chief Joseph Zukas,
“It was the busiest day we’ve had in a long time,” Zukas said. “On the 10th floor there was a sprinkler pipe that let go in one of the units. We opened the door, and there was about a foot or two of water — it was something like we’ve never seen before.”
Throughout the day, similar pipe and sprinkler breaks occurred at Neptune Towers at 130 Neptune Boulevard, the seven-story condominium building at 285 Lynn Shore Drive, and the Council on Aging Center at 37 Friend St.
Director of Elder Services at the Council on Aging Center Christopher Gomez said that he arrived at the building on Saturday and saw water spewing out of multiple areas.
“When I got there, I noticed all the water was coming out of everywhere heavy,” Gomez said.
As first responders collaborated with the Department of Public Health, the Inspectional Services Department, and the Concerned Citizens of Lynn, the city activated an emergency shelter space at Thurgood-Marshall Middle School.
More than three dozen people stayed at Marshall Middle School on Saturday night, Zukas said. Red Cross workers said that at its fullest, the shelter housed approximately 60 people.
George Kamara, a Caggiano Plaza resident displaced from the water break said that he found out around 5 p.m. Saturday evening that he would have to leave his apartment.
“I noticed that it was raining, and then the alarm came on. When the alarm came on, we all came outside and it was still pouring and pouring,” he said. “I noticed that it had flooded all in my apartment.”
Zukas said that of the approximately 50 displaced Caggiano Tower residents, only 14 were transported to the shelter.
“Sometimes people decide to go with family members if it’s uncomfortable for them to be in the shelter,” Zukas said. “It was a very labor-intensive event because some people had to be carried by two firefighters to a person with a wheelchair or crutches down multiple flights of stairs.”
LHAND Executive Director Charles J. Gaeta said that six to seven Caggiano Tower residents will most likely be put up in a hotel for a few nights. No one was injured, and Gaeta thanked the Lynn Fire Department for their efforts to get residents out safely and effectively.
“We had the fire department going door to door with us. Just the compassion they showed and they did a terrific job,” he said.
Concerned Citizens of Lynn President Lisa Pressman set up another shelter Friday morning at the Congregation Ahabat Sholom located at 151 Ocean St. She said roughly a dozen people had come through the shelter as of Sunday morning.
One person, Pressman said, came knocking on the door late Saturday night after being out in the freezing conditions.
“Someone was pounding on the door and it was a young man literally just freezing,” she said.
With temperatures rising significantly Sunday morning the water breaks will likely continue, Zukas said. As a result, Lynn Fire put extra staff on duty Sunday to prepare for any additional pipe bursts.
“We put an extra engine in service today anticipating more calls,” Zukas said Sunday. “It’s usually a day after when it thaws out — it was very unusual to have all those water leaks during during the freezing, it’s usually a day or two after when things warm up that causes issues.”
The Marshall Middle School Shelter closed Sunday afternoon in anticipation of the school opening monday. However, Mayor Jared Nicholson said that in the event that a large number of residents are displaced Sunday night, the shelter will be reactivated.
“If large numbers of people are displaced the emergency shelter is Marshall Middle School. As of now, there’s no need for that to be active — but at any moment if that becomes necessary, then the team will activate it so that people have somewhere to go,” Nicholson said in an interview Sunday afternoon.
While there was a high volume of calls regarding pipe bursts in Lynn, other communities in the area went relatively unscathed despite the harsh conditions.
“Relatively in Lynnfield it went pretty well,” said Lt. Chris Cavalieri, of the Lynnfield Fire Department. “We didn’t have any serious incidents, we ended up with a couple of pipe bursts but nothing major, no real significant property damage or any displaced residents.”
In Swampscott, Capt. Jim Snow of the Swampscott Fire Department said, “We had a string of calls yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday) with water issues, but I don’t believe anyone was displaced. Most of them were broken sprinkler pipes and calls relating to water.”
Nicholson thanked all of the parties involved in the effort, including first responders, the Lynn Housing Authority and special service department, and the Salvation Army.
“In a really difficult moment, I’m just very grateful that so many folks came together and stepped up and take care of our residents when they needed it,” he said.