MARSHALL, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com/AP) - The Blizzard of 2015 was too much for a seawall in Marshfield. An 80 long section of the wall along Bay Avenue suffered extensive damage during Tuesday morning's high tide.
Rep. Jim Cantwell tells FOX 25 news that the seawall damaged a total of 11 homes and it knocked two others home are off their foundation. Cantwell also said as many as 100 more homes may be at risk. He said once one part of the wall goes, the integrity of nearby structures are also put in question.
People in the area say conditions were still deteriorating with a real concern about the next high tide which comes late Tuesday afternoon.
Lt. Paul Taber told AP officials discovered the estimated 40-50 foot breach Tuesday morning in the Green Harbor section of town. Taber said utilities were shut off to the immediate neighborhood as a result of the breach.
Rep. Cantwell said this section of the South Shore has been a concern for years. "It's a canary in a coalmine," he said, adding that many of the seawalls along the coast are in disrepair. He said fixing them is costly, but the collapse shows a solution is needed.
Cantwell has invited Gov. Charlie Baker down to see the damage.
A pumper truck has been called to the collapse site, but Cantwell said there is no way pumps will be able to hold back the Atlantic Ocean.
Prior to the sea wall discovery, Massachusetts' emergency management director Kurt Schwarz said the 4:30 a.m. high tide passed without any "catastrophic, life-threatening situations." He said state and local officials assisted in some voluntary evacuations in Marshfield, Hull and Scituate, but they were not considered rescues.
Cox Media Group
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