LEOMINSTER, Mass. – The city of Leominster is beginning cleanup efforts after heavy rains and flash flooding Monday night caused significant damage.

Several streets throughout the city were flooded, with cars being washed away in some cases. First responders reported multiple rescues, including by boat.

Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzerella declared a state of emergency. He estimated the city received up to 11 inches of rain.

“You can’t get around your neighborhood," said 14-year-old Michael Dellechiaie. "The roads are gone. Everyone is trying to get somewhere, but you can’t get there.”

Dellechiaie was supposed to be in school Tuesday, but after seeing the damage, he wasn’t surprised to hear classes were canceled. As of Tuesday afternoon, two Leominster schools were operating as emergency shelters for at least 100 people.

“There were just rivers going through our lawn, through our neighbors yards, and there were sinkholes opening," Dellechiaie said. "It's just a mess. We tried calling the fire department emergency management. Nobody can make it out. And at a certain point, I'm pretty sure they switched to just search and rescue only. I know people were getting trapped, there were building collapses.”

A flea market building on Spruce Street sustained heavy damage as waters in the Monoosnoc Brook spilled over. Concerns about the Barrett Park Pond Dam prompted evacuations in nearby low-lying areas.

Bill Brady, owner of Brady's Restaurant, narrowly avoided water seeping into his business. He’s grateful for the efforts of first responders.

“From what I understand, there were no fatalities, so that, that's miraculous," Brady said. "If you saw the water rushing into the river, it was just the power was incredible.”

Neighborhoods that were evacuated included the Meadow Acres Mobile Home Park, where Peter Arenault was sweeping off his driveway Tuesday morning. Arenault declined to leave his home Monday night, saying he wanted first responders to help others first.

“There's a lot of people here that can't walk and they're on wheelchairs and handicapped and whatnot, so I said, 'Well, get rid of them. And if you got room and time, come and get me,'" Arenault said. "They didn't come and get me by 11, I went to bed.”