SCITUATE -- A seawall breached in this town Saturday morning amid a lacerating nor’easter that kept pounding, dusk to dawn. Water poured onto Ocean Avenue and surrounding streets, spurring frantic calls from residents pleading for evacuation.

“I was just with the chief of police and right now every other call is an evacuation,” said Anthony Vegnani, vice chairman of the Scituate Board of Selectmen.