John Phelan | Tractor show on the Common, Belchertown Massachusetts | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tractor_show_on_the_Common,_Belchertown_MA.jpg | Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tractor_show_on_the_Common,_Belchertown_MA.jpg
On July 18, 2021, peak flooding in Belchertown, Massachusetts turned many residents’ homes essentially into islands. A culvert burst on East Street caused the road to collapse around 3am. Residents claim that their basements, garages, driveways, and areas around their homes were under several feet of water.
A survey was conducted by lawmakers and town officials to record the aftermath of the flooding. Residents are looking towards state leadership for help with the town and its citizens.
After surveying the area, town officials have concluded that due to heavy rainfall and the break of the beaver damn, too much water was let into the irrigation system which caused the rupture of a culvert below East Street.