Grant may aid flood-prone Saugus area

SAUGUS – Living on Elm Street near the Saugus River hasn?t been easy.Just ask Barbara Wehner, whose home on the corner of Elm Street and Saville Street has flooded numerous times and who had water up to the ceiling of her basement during the “Mother?s Day Flood” of 2006.?I?ve had to have my water heater replaced three times,” said Wehner, who has lived there since 1998. “After the first flood I just don?t put anything down there anymore. Usually March through May is like fingers crossed. I?ve had sleepless nights where I watch the rain and say, ?OK, the water?s coming, when?s it going to stop?? “But residents along the flood-prone river could see some relief in the form of a $1 million hazard mitigation grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which, if approved, would provide 75 percent of the costs to either replace the Elm Street Bridge or widen the culvert underneath.?It?s been determined that (the bridge) is the cause of flooding in the area of Saville street and Alvah Street,” said Town Manager Andrew Bisignani. “It affects about 40 or 50 homes.”The problem in the area is two-fold: poor drainage when the water table is high and a lack of a sewer pumping station.The latter is being designed by Cambridge-based engineering firm Camp Dresser McKee after Town Meeting voted to approve the project in May.But while the FEMA grant is currently under review by the National Emergency Management Association and the Department of Environmental Protection, Grants Consultant Paul Rupp said he thinks Saugus has a very good chance of netting the funds needed.?Our feeling is that Saugus did such a good job with the Shute Brook project that we think Saugus is in good standing,” said Rupp.