Keeping Historic Salem Safe from Flood Damage

1/20/2021 (Permalink)

Salem is no stranger to storms, and SERVPRO is always on call to restore your storm damaged home.

Salem Flood Damage Cannot Erase History

Salem barely needs an introduction. This thriving city of 41,340 residents is associated with popular consciousness with the infamous Salem witch trials. When you visit, you will see witch logos on police cars, and local schools often name their sports teams after witches and witch-related phenomena. 

However, there is much more to Salem than the witch trials. The city has a long history stretching back to 1626, when colonists arrived from Cape Ann to settle in the area. Nowadays, Salem is a modern community with green initiatives such as electric car charging points and free bicycles so visitors can explore Salem in an environmentally friendly way. 

It is also a place where history is also close at hand. 

The Historical Sites of Salem 

If you are visiting Salem, do not miss out on these historical gems:

• Pioneer Village was constructed in the 1930s as the setting for a play. However, the townspeople liked it so much that the city decided to keep it and turn it into a tourist attraction. In June 1930, it became America’s first living history museum. The historical recreation was so accurate that in 1993 Pioneer Village was used to represent seventeenth-century Salem in the opening scenes of Hocus Pocus.
• Salem Maritime Historic Site lets you take a step into Salem’s rich maritime past. Among the attractions on display, you will find the eighteen-century home of Captain Derby, who was the first millionaire in the New World, a custom house, a storehouse, and a replica tall ship named the Friendship of Salem.
• The Federal Street Historic District, where you can view the Old Granite Courthouse
• The Peabody Essex Museum, which holds the record as the longest continually operated museum in the United States.

If you want some fresh air, look no further than Salem Willows, a lush green oceanfront park. The park gets its name from the lovely willow trees planted to provide a shady walk for patients convalescing at the nearby smallpox hospital. Besides peaceful nature walks, you can enjoy seaside fun in the park thanks to its beaches, piers, and boardwalks. Kids are sure to love the playpark, miniature golf, and carousel. 

Floods can Cause Havoc in Salem 

Salem has seen its fair share of storms and floods. In 2018 a winter storm caused flooding severe enough to put Derby Wharf completely underwater, close schools, and render many roads impassable. City officials proclaimed it the worst flooding in the area for more than 50 years. Historical records show that storms and coastal flooding have been an issue in Salem for many centuries.

SERVPRO Advises Residents on Flood Damage Protection 

In the event of flood damage, SERVPRO is here to help. However, it is always better to prevent damage if you can. Some ways to protect your home include:

• Ensuring doors, windows, gutters, and the roof are sound with no holes, cracks, or missing tiles
• Installing storm doors or shutters
• Keeping vital paperwork and medication in waterproof containers and storing them on the upper floor of your house
• Examining your garden and yard to ensure the ground slopes away from your home

Contact us as soon as you notice flood damage. We can extract water, dry your home and belongings, and even liaise with your insurance company. Call SERVPRO of Salem / Peabody / Marblehead at (978) 744-4545.