High Water And High Winds Ruffle Newtown

By Andrew Gorosko

Too much wind and water kept Newtown’s emergency services busy in several areas of town last weekend.

Following the extended heavy rains that had caused water levels to rise in the Housatonic River, the lower section of Housatonic Drive experienced flooding last Sunday morning, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company Chief Bill Halstead said. That flooding occurred near the Shady Rest recreation pavilion on the Lake Zoar section of the river.

About eight homes were affected by that flooding, he said, resulting in river water finding its way into basements. The lower section of Housatonic Drive was flooded to a depth of about two feet, he said.

On Saturday, October 15, several fire companies were dispatched to several locations across town to pump water out of basements following an extended period of heavy rains.

High winds last Sunday prompted a rash of calls for help to the five local volunteer fire companies, resulting in firefighters responding to many incidents involving fallen trees and disrupted electrical service.

Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) spokeswoman Mary Ingarra said this week that scattered weather-related electrical outages started occurring in Newtown about 9:30 am on Sunday as the winds picked up.

The height of the electrical outages occurred about 9:30 pm Sunday, when 1,127 electric customers were without power, she said. By 6:30 am on Monday, virtually all electrical service was restored, she said.

Southwestern Connecticut was one of the hardest hit sections of the state in terms of electrical outages due to the high winds, she said.

Newtown Hook & Ladder, Dodgingtown, Hawleyville, Sandy Hook, and Botsford firefighters all were dispatched to calls across town on the windy Sunday. Overall, there were 25 fire company dispatches on Sunday, most of which were weather-related, and many of which involved fallen electrical lines.

Chief Hallstead said the bulk of the calls involved trees falling down, with electrical lines often being brought down by those falling trees.

About 4:19 pm on Sunday, Sandy Hook firefighters responded to Route 34, near its intersection with Zoar Road, where a large tree had fallen onto the road, requiring a road closure, Chief Halstead said.

The section of Route 34 between Bennetts Bridge and Pole Bridge Road was then closed to through-traffic to allow repairs to be made. Route 34 traffic was detoured onto Bennetts Bridge Road, Jeremiah Road, and Pole Bridge Road. Route 34 was closed to through-traffic for more than 90 minutes.

Also, fallen trees resulted in road closures on Nutmeg Lane and on Overlook Knoll, Chief Halstead said.

Mike McCarthy, who is the first assistant fire chief at Newtown Hook & Ladder, said that at about 4:36 pm on Sunday, firefighters responded to the section of Castle Hill Road near King Street, where a fallen tree had brought down burning electrical lines onto the road.

Firefighters called in a CL&P crew to make repairs and also blocked the road to traffic. Motorists were detoured around the problem area for about three hours until repairs could be made, he said.

About 11:30 am Sunday, a section of Mile Hill Road South was closed to traffic after a fallen tree brought down some electrical lines at 59 Mile Hill Road South, Mr McCarthy said. Hook & Ladder and Botsford firefighters were dispatched to that call.

Botsford Fire Chief Wayne Ciaccia said windy conditions resulted in many trees falling, some of which brought down electrical lines as they fell.

During the weekend, fallen trees caused temporary road closures at Swamp Road and at High Bridge Road, he said. Road detours were created to divert traffic around the problem areas until repairs could be made, he said.

“Sunday, we went on call after call after call,” he said.