Flood waters rose fast as the rain fell Tuesday, leaving many Massachusetts homes and businesses still cleaning up the next day.
Cars were submerged, drivers stuck, streets flooded, and it was no wonder basements took on water and are still filled with it one day later.
The trouble, many are finding, is getting it out.
"This is kind of our feast or famine, when it rains, we jump right on it," said Brandon Campbell, president of A Touch Above Flood & Fire Restoration.
Campbell has crews working on 17 calls around Greater Boston after a nor'easter pounded the region.
Little Leaders Day Care in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood is closed due to the strong odor of oil after rainwater seeped into the pores of the foundation.
"Because of the oil, we have to pump it and then we have to sanitize it and then neutralize the air with a fogging device where we're actually treating and bursting microns into the air to kill the oil odor," Campbell added.
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And they have to sweep, shovel and do whatever it takes to push the water toward the pump and get it out.
About a mile away but still in Dorchester, a basement was safely used for storage, until now.
"Been here 20 years and never had flooding like this. Never had any problems with water whatsoever. None," Shirley Royster said.
"I put my foot in it, just to see how far it went down and it's halfway up my leg. So it's about 6 inches," Cynthia Joseph said.
The furnace isn't working and the hot water heater isn't, either, so they've resorted to boil water before heading to work in the morning.
"This is our bath water. This is it. This is what we have for tonight to wash up in," Royster said.
The high water mark was 8 inches Tuesday night in the day care basement, and is down much lower than that by Wednesday. They are hoping when the water's gone, mold won't form behind it.
