On September 26, 2026, severe rainfall caused Salisbury Brook to overflow into the Belmont Avenue neighborhood in Brockton, creating flooding that devastated our home and surrounding area.

Our family at 76 Belmont Avenue was forced to evacuate with our two young children after floodwater surrounded our home from virtually every direction. Water came from behind the property, spread through the vacant field beside our home, reached the side and front of the property, and eventually left the house completely surrounded.

Approximately four feet of floodwater entered our basement, reaching about the same level as the water outside. The flooding severely damaged our heating system, electrical system, basement, garage, vehicle, household belongings, and equipment used to maintain our home. Our family was displaced and has been unable to safely return home while repairs and recovery continue.

Since the flood, we have learned more about the history of this area.

City officials have explained that the large vacant property beside our home was associated with a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Program around 2001, when homes in the area were purchased and demolished because of flooding concerns. The property has remained vacant and undeveloped since that time.

It is now 2026—approximately 25 years later—and residents deserve to understand what the long-term flood-management plan is for this area.

During the September 26 storm, the vacant field became completely submerged. Rather than preventing water from reaching surrounding homes, floodwater spread throughout the area as Salisbury Brook rose beyond its banks.

We have also observed that other portions of the brook appear to have substantial retaining walls or similar structures, including on the opposite side of the waterway, while the Belmont Avenue side does not appear to have comparable protection. There also appears to be limited or no visible stormwater drainage immediately near our property to carry excess water away when the brook overflows.

Because our home was surrounded by water from the rear, side, and front, this is not something that can realistically be solved by one homeowner simply installing a retaining wall on one side of a property.

This requires a broader look at Salisbury Brook, stormwater infrastructure, floodwater storage, drainage capacity, and the surrounding neighborhood.

We are respectfully asking the Mayor of Brockton, Brockton City Council, Department of Public Works, Stormwater Authority, Engineering Division, Conservation Commission, and other appropriate agencies to work together on a comprehensive assessment and long-term flood-mitigation strategy.

We are specifically requesting that the City:

Conduct a comprehensive engineering and stormwater assessment of Salisbury Brook and the Belmont Avenue area.

Evaluate the brook's capacity and determine whether sediment, vegetation, erosion, obstructions, culverts, infrastructure limitations, or other conditions are contributing to flooding.

Evaluate the vacant FEMA-acquired property next to Belmont Avenue and explain its intended long-term role in floodwater management.

Review what flood-mitigation planning, studies, or improvements have occurred since the homes in this area were purchased and demolished around 2001.

Assess whether the existing drainage infrastructure serving Belmont Avenue is adequate.

Evaluate why portions of Salisbury Brook appear to have substantial retaining or flood-control structures while the Belmont Avenue side does not have comparable protection.

Determine whether additional engineered measures—such as drainage improvements, brook improvements, culvert upgrades, bank stabilization, floodwalls, berms, retaining structures, additional flood-storage improvements, or other solutions—could reduce future flood risk.

Conduct an on-site assessment with residents so officials can see how floodwater traveled through the neighborhood during the September 26 event.

Develop and publicly communicate a short- and long-term flood-mitigation plan for the affected area.

Identify available municipal, state, or federal funding that could be used for infrastructure and flood-mitigation improvements.

We understand that homes located near waterways will always face some level of flood risk, and no project can guarantee that flooding will never happen.

But residents should also be able to know that reasonable steps are being taken to evaluate known flood hazards, maintain infrastructure, improve drainage, and reduce preventable damage.

The answer cannot simply be to wait for Salisbury Brook to overflow again.

Our family has already experienced the consequences: evacuation, displacement, major property damage, loss of essential home systems, loss of transportation, and months of uncertainty.

We do not want another family on Belmont Avenue or elsewhere along Salisbury Brook to experience the same devastation before additional action is taken.

Please sign this petition asking the City of Brockton to conduct a comprehensive review of Salisbury Brook, Belmont Avenue's drainage and flood risks, the FEMA-acquired vacant property, and the long-term measures necessary to better protect this neighborhood.

Our goal is simple:

Understand why this continues to happen, determine what can reasonably be done, and take action before the next major storm becomes another family's disaster.