Community Corner

Regions Wait to See What Happens Next With Flood Water

The national weather service's outlook for the region is predicting more rain at the end of the week.

Local roads and basements have a small window of opportunity to dry out as the sun will shine today, but by Wednesday the wet and freezing weather could return for the remainder of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

This may not be welcome news for battle fatigued emergency responders or weary homeowners who are fighting to reclaim local roads and basements from the melting snow and rising rivers and streams.

A flood warning will remain in effect for the region until late this morning as some of the areas major rivers begin to crest and the warmer temperatures - it will be in the mid-40s today - continue to melt the record amout of snow, according to the weather service.

Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Weather experts are also calling for a "moderate probability of another signficant rainfall Thursday into Friday" that could include gusty winds to usher in a cold front.

As temperatures dropped with the sun Monday, the areas where water had taken its course across roadways turned slick with black ice and became tricky for drivers and pedestrians to traverse.

Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Connecticut State Police Troop C in Tolland reported more than 20 accidents along area roads after dark primarily because of ice. For a period of time, Route 195 in Mansfield near CVS and Route 190 in Stafford near the Somers line were closed to through traffic as emergency personnel dealt with accidents.

Along Route 30 in Ellington, some residents began policing the road cautioning drivers to slow down as they approached water still running across the road, but now on top of black ice. Route 140 was not much better through the Crystal Lake section of town into Stafford where a line of nearly 20 cars wove its way along the curvy road.

During the day, emergency personnel throughout the region were kept busy tending to flooded roadways and basements and monitoring the region's rivers.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy activated the state Emergency Operations Center Monday to oversee the state response to flooding conditions and periodically checked in with town officials.

Windsor Police Chief Kevin Searles said the town escaped major damage, but fire personnel responded to dozens of residential flooding calls, including one homeowner who had four feet of water in the basement.

Windsor Town Manager Peter Souza said that there was a large number of homes and businesses that reported flooding and Metropolitian District Commission personnel responded to a water pipe that overflowed.

The only major road closure in own was Bloomfield Avenue (Route 305) near the Bloomfield and Windsor line was closed briefly because a nearby pond overflowed.

Several Enfield streets remained closed Monday afternoon while water receded from the torrential rainfall and melting snow.

During the afternoon the northbound lanes of Freshwater Boulevard in front of Costco were closed, and traffic on Cranbrook Boulevard was being diverted in both directions. Where John and Meadow streets meet was under water, as was a portion of the Enfield Square driveway and the commuter parking lot next to Bob's.

In Somers, Public Works Director Jeffrey Bord said he was closely monitoring the Scantic River, particularly in the Durkee, Four Bridges and King roads area. Deep water that ran over those roads, in addition to Ninth District and Wachaug, could mean extensive repairs will be necessary once the water subsides, according to an e-mail from a public works employee to First Selectwoman Lisa Pellegrini.

Town officials are waiting for clarification from the state Department of Environmental Protection asking about whether opening the floodgates at the Mill Pond dam could help alleviate potential flooding.

Bord said he will continue to monitor the rivers and brooks in town throughout  the day, as the water sheds times of peak elevations are all different. He suspects that the smaller water bodies have peacked but the larger ones, including the Scantic, could rise more over the next day or two. 

Vernon seemed to fare fairly well in the weather as police reported having to shut down just a few areas in town because of minor flooding in the town.

As crews tried to keep the water at bay along the roads, area schools also had to contend with the liquid seeping into buildings or other issues related to Sunday's overnight storm.

In Mansfield, the middle school lost power for nearly four hours Monday morning after a tree branch fell into service lines. School was not canceled or postponed, and CL&P utility workers restored power at around 10 a.m.

Mansfield Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal John Jackman that the middle school was able to open as the building stayed warm enough and emergency lighting was functioning.

In Somers, the rain brought with it some headaches for high school staff as water leaked through a section of the roof, forcing one office to temporarily relocate. Principal Gary Cotzin said the issues were more of a nuisance than a problem, and that the school was able to operate as normal.

Local Editors Chris Dehnel, Tim Jensen, Julian McKinley and Elyssa Millspaugh contributed to this report.


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