Pumps Cut the Strain on Town’s Wobbly Dam

Fears that a dam collapse could inundate Taunton’s downtown eased as pumping relieved pressure on the storm-weakened structure and officials began allowing some of the 2,000 people evacuated to return home.

Residents had been evacuated for days since the Whittenton Mill Dam buckled and began breaking apart, and hundreds whose homes are closest to the 173-year-old dam were still being asked to stay away.

But city officials grew more confident when pumps began moving water downstream to the Mill River.

The area has had more than 11 inches of rain this month. More was expected this weekend.