Provincetown officials fear worst of storm damage yet to be discovered

Residents and business owners in Provincetown are just beginning to clean up the damage following last week’s monster storm.

Dozens of homes and businesses were ravaged by a record high tide, and there’s a big concern that much of the devastation hasn’t yet been discovered.

Town officials say at least 66 properties were flooded during last week’s nor'easter, but because of how many part-time residents there are in Provincetown, there’s a concern that many people in the affected flood zones may not have been yet to see their properties firsthand.

Police say that they are in the process of calling 600 property owners, asking if they have checked to see for themselves.

Homeowners and business owners showed Boston 25 News reporter Drew Karedes some of the properties hardest hit by a recorded 15.3 foot tide that rolled in.

The more Boston 25 News asked around town, the more we found out about familiar spots in Provincetown that are still reeling, including the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House flooded by at least six inches of water and The Gas Lamp Bed and Breakfast on Bradford Street flooded by about 4 and a half feet of water.

“Our building is 1847 and we’ve never seen anything quite like it," said Rev. Kate Wilkinson. "This was a weird confluence of events with the tide and the moon and the storm... we hope it doesn't ever happen again, but I know the ocean is rising."

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Over in the West End, a woman retreated up to a loft in her home as a wave of water rushed through and destroyed everything.

"I heard water thinking it was broken water pipe by the time I figured out it was the ocean it was 8 to 10 seconds before it was about this high," said Byrdine Melton.

Many people say they have been in a holding pattern because of those record low temperatures that lingered on past the week.

There are many people who don’t have flood insurance, and those that do say the insurance may not be enough to get them back on their feet.

Life-long residents say they’ve never witnessed this much water come into town and they are very worried it could happen again.

Several meetings are set to happen in the days and weeks ahead to discuss what can be done to better prepare for this type of storm surge. One of the ideas is adding sand to residential/commercial coastline to better prevent water from coming in.

Town officials have declared a local state of emergency and are taking steps in an effort to appeal for federal funds.

If you would like to donate to the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House's relief fund, click here.

Cox Media Group