Governor Declares State of Emergency
Easton firefighters rescued several people and animals from their vehicles trapped in floodwaters and one town police officer was hurt during Sunday’s historic rainfall.
Several town roads remain closed. Rock House Road at Pine Tree Road, Wells Hill Road at the bridge and North Park Avenue in the area of Maple Road remain closed until further notice. Motorists should use caution on Deerfield Drive as one lane is washed out.
Roads with water damage are being evaluated by the town engineer and it appears they will take several weeks to rebuild the sub road and surface, said Police Captain Jonathan Arnold.
At the height of the storm that lasted approximately 12 hours, Easton Police, Fire and EMS received over eight times the normal call volume due to water related emergencies, said Arnold.
An Easton Police Officer received minor injuries while rescuing stranded motorists on Route 58 in the overnight hours, said Arnold.
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has declared a state of emergency in response to the significant flooding that is affecting portions of Connecticut due to the historically severe rainfall that began yesterday afternoon and has caused extensive structural damage to roadways. Two women in Oxford lost their lives.
Fire Chief Robert Klem said firefighters responded to 22 calls between 2 p.m. on Sunday and midnight.
The swift water rescues performed by firefighters near Redding and Wells Hills Road because the motorists got caught in the rising waters and were swept off the road.
“The danger was the water was fast-moving and rising,” said Klem.
Other calls firefighters responded to included assisting stranded motorists and reports of flooding in and around people’s homes. A few people were taken to the hospital for evaluation but no serious injuries occurred.
First Selectman David Bindelglass thanked first responders and the Department of Public Works crews for helping residents and the town deal with Sunday’s flooding.
“They were out in force and did a phenomenal job,“ he said
Bindelglass said he spoke with Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz about the possibility of Easton receiving federal FEMA money to help repair damaged roads and assist homeowners impacted by the storm.
“Both the town and individuals in town could be eligible for FEMA funds,” he said.
The roads listed above are still closed due to damage and unsafe to use. Do not cross barricades or taped-off areas, as this may jeopardize your safety, police said. They encourage you to call 911 to report any hazardous conditions or an emergency.
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