Norwood 'rain event' shuts down hospital, leaves flooded basements and cars

Jun. 30--Norwood resident Bob Prevatt did everything he could to stop a flash flood from filling his basement during Sunday afternoon's storm, but nothing would stop the downpour.

"We put the pump in and it wasn't even two minutes after that, the whole driveway filled up with water and started back pouring," Prevatt told the Herald Monday while cleaning his basement. "It came in so fast, so quick, yeah no pump was going to stop what was going on at that point."

Prevatt was one of many people in Norwood affected by 4 inches of rain in less than 90 minutes Sunday evening, a weather event that knocked out power, sent submerged cars drifting away and forced the evacuation of over 100 patients from Norwood Hospital.

A National Weather Service report recorded 5.63 inches of rainfall Sunday, in what Norwood General Manager Tony Mazzucco said was some of the worst flooding in decades.

"Hopefully it was a once in a generation event," Mazzucco said.

Norwood Hospital remained closed Monday after emergency responders from across the region transported over 100 patients into area hospitals Sunday evening, Norwood Fire Chief George Morrice said in a statement.

"Thanks to everyone's quick response we were able to move patients swiftly and safely and no injuries have been reported," Morrice said.

About 20 patients were evacuated from Norwood Hospital's intensive care unit after a power outage around 6:30 p.m., while an additional 60 to 70 were evacuated hours later with power still out, officials said.

Individuals seeking medical assistance on Monday were encouraged to visit Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro or Beth Israel Deaconess Needham, while those seeking patients evacuated from Norwood were encouraged to call a hotline at 781-769-4000.

The Norwood Fire Department, in a social media post, said it received about 75 calls for service Sunday including small structure fires and lightning strikes, to flooded basements and the hospital's leaks on the roof and upper floors.

Prevatt said DPW workers helped pump water out of his basement Monday, and estimated he had cleared about 90% of the water Monday afternoon in "by far" the worst flooding he's experienced.

Water-logged cars were another concern Monday, as Prevatt said his wife's Toyota Corolla drifted in floodwaters while his father-in-law's truck wouldn't start, with water rising into the driver's seat. Cars driving over puddles also sent floodwaters toward homes, he said.

Rainfall was predicted through the rest of the week, but Norwood Police Chief William Brook said in a statement that officials don't expect a "rain event" like Sunday's again.

Prevatt, thinking aloud about his home insurance, wasn't taking any chances.

"Water's going to go wherever it wants to go," he said.

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