Gov views flood damage, mold sickens schoolkids

May 20, 2006

By Owen Mac/ Winchester Star

Friday, May 19, 2006 - Updated: 11:21 AM EST

Boston Herald Thu, 18 May 2006 8:03 PM PDT

As the governor took to the air to survey the flood damage along the

North Shore, this week's ravaging rains claimed more victims

yesterday with possible mold to blame at a soggy school.

More than 20 Winchester teachers and students were rushed to the

hospital after they all became ill. All were treated and later

released, but they won't be sent back to the suspect sick school

today until the air is tested.

" Because of the recent flooding, the carpet could have released

mold or fumes, " said Winchester Fire Chief Nash.

Police in Topsfield also reported yesterday a car belonging to a

missing man was found submerged in the swollen Ipswich River. Melvin

, 56, was reported missing at 7 a.m. Tuesday by a co-worker.

Meanwhile, Gov. Mitt Romney took his first aerial tour yesterday

of areas ravaged by flooding, seeing pockets of destruction.

" The damage seems to be clustered by neighborhood. It's not

broadly spread across entire cities, " Romney said after he and

Senate President Travaglini surveyed the region.

Over Peabody, they spotted how the square is now open. Flying

across Beverly and Topsfield, the effects of nearly a week's worth

of rain were more apparent.

Over Newburyport, where the Merrimack River empties into the

Atlantic Ocean, broken docks were visible along the riverbanks. Over

Amesbury, they saw the Powow River careering right and left through

downtown, sections of street still blocked off by temporary orange

fencing.

Flying west over Haverhill, Lawrence and Lowell, the Merrimack

and Spicket rivers still raged, but the floodwaters had receded.

The Herald's Jenna Wolf and the Associated Press contributed to this

report.

Recommended Posts