Homeowner: 'Let the river take it'

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - "They should just condemn this street and let the river take it," said Cranston resident Brenda Furtado.

She lives in one of about a dozen Cranston houses along Perkins Avenue near the Pawtuxet River who evacuated Monday morning as the river reached record levels.

She said the flooding is scary. "Scary because we're going to lose everything again. It's the second time in less than five years."

Several streets in Cranston, Warwick and West Warwick looked like rivers, forcing firefighters to use rafts to rescue stranded residents.

Water levels on the Pawtuxet were at 14.88 feet and rising by noon Monday, well above the record water level of 14.5 feet set in June 1982.

The area was placed under a flood warning, and Eyewitness News Meteorologist Michelle Muscatello forecast the river to be in the flood stage through at least Wednesday.

Meanwhile, another flood warning was issued for the Blackstone River in Lincoln and Cumberland, where minor flooding is expected through Tuesday. Water levels were more than a foot above flood stage by noon.

The entire Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts area was placed under a flood warning for streets, areas of poor drainage and small streams through Monday afternoon. Rainfall totals of 2 to 6 inches are expected to produce widespread street and small stream flooding through the day.

Rain is expected to continue in the area throughout the day and evening, finally tapering off after midnight.