The following is an update from First Selectman Toni Boucher.
Hello Wilton. There is much to report in the aftermath of the Aug. 18 storm, but we would first like to inform residents of two key health and safety issues directly affecting our town.
- Scribner Hill Rd.: A section of Scribner Hill Rd., from the intersection of Blue Ridge Rd. and Scribner Hill up to house number 103 Scribner Hill Rd., is closed because of the dangerous, unstable conditions created by the storm. Current estimates predict that repairs may take until summer of 2025 to be completed. Alternate routes will be posted.
- Well Water Treatment: Residents whose homes rely on private wells for their water should have this water tested after Sunday’s storm. If there is any discoloration and/or odor coming from your faucet, or you know flood waters overtopped the well casing, please have your well inspected by a professional. You should not assume that the water from a flooded well is safe to drink, as drinking or using contaminated water may cause illness. A professional inspector will check if there is damage to the well casing, and that electrical wires going to the pump are in working order.
After disinfection, it is advised to pump the water until it runs clear. This will rid your system of any groundwater in the well. Use a hose connected to an outside faucet so the flushed water flows into a drainageway rather than into your septic system or public sewer.
For more information about the flooding of private wells and clean-up, [visit the CT Department of Public Health website].
The Storm in Wilton
Starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, Connecticut received an unexpected 8 inches of rain in seven hours. [Editor’s note: rainfall in Wilton was approximately 8 inches; rainfall in other CT locations varied, with an official high of over 12 inches in Newtown and 9 inches in hard-hit Oxford, according to the National Weather Service; totals at other locations were below an inch.] Weathercasters were caught off guard and were unable to warn the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services, our town, or the public, about the severity of this storm before it hit us. As a result, civic leaders and first responders were not notified that they needed to prepare for weather of this magnitude. Normally, this is the chain of information town administrators depend on when a life-threating event imperils our state.
Wilton Emergency Management, however, immediately opened its operation center, with the fire and police chiefs in command. Fire Chief Jim Blanchfield and Police Chief Tom Conlan called me right away and I joined them at Town Hall later on Sunday. They and their teams worked tirelessly throughout the night and into the next day, responding to emergency calls, and keeping the public updated as the situation changed. Roads were closed after the Norwalk River overflowed and flooded major intersections, including three sections of Rte. 7.
Events escalated quickly through the night. Weather stations reported floods that had not been seen in 100 or even 1,000 years in Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven Counties, New Haven County being the hardest hit. [In Wilton], 18 people were evacuated from their homes in the Wilton Arrowhead and Newtown Turnpike neighborhoods. One family was rescued with their two dogs and their cat by the Wilton Fire Department and were taken to Fire Department headquarters where I met them. We provided this distressed family with snacks for the humans and treats for the animals until a car could take them to a hotel around 11 p.m.
At 7:30 the next morning, Gov. Ned Lamont called my cell. He wanted to know how our resident and business communities were doing, and how ASML’s infrastructure and employees had fared. As Wilton’s top employer and a major contributor to our state’s economy, ASML is a high priority for Connecticut and brings a lot of attention to Wilton.
On Monday, we convened a meeting of the emergency operations center at 8:30 a.m., where we discussed the status of EMT calls, and the condition of our roads, town fields and commercial properties. We were grateful to learn that all of our citizens were safe, including the evacuees (who were able to re-enter their homes as of Monday). The roads were clear, with the exception of Scribner Hill Rd. Scribner Hill Rd. was already slated for reconstruction by the town at the Annual Town Meeting in May, but the storm caused even more erosion, destabilizing it further. Sections of it will remain closed until new construction is complete, which could take a year.
During Monday’s meeting, we also had a call with the State’s Emergency Management Team who advised us to keep records of all the Town’s costs related to the storm.
Also on Monday, and through the rest of this week, Steve Pierce and the Parks and Recreation crew, began their tireless efforts to clean up Wilton’s damaged parks and fields, while the Department of Public Works set out to inspect Wilton’s infrastructure. Wilton residents and visitors should know that all roads and bridges have been deemed safe, except for the sections of Scribner Hill Rd. previously mentioned. Various reconstruction projects around town may have to continue throughout the year ahead.
The Cost to Rebuild
Three years ago, the Town paid nearly $300,000 to repair the high school stadium after another storm’s damage. This gives us some idea of how much it will take to rebuild again, although the stadium and the track were hit much harder this time. We’ve also had to dredge Merwin Meadows Park in the past and it appears that this, too, will need to be done for a second time. Merwin Meadows will require major rehabilitation after the terrible damage it sustained. Until then, the grounds will have to remain closed. Schenks Island was also substantially impacted. Fortunately, the Town does have flood insurance and adjusters have already conducted their on-site reviews of the stadium and Merwin Meadows, as these were the most severely damaged locations in Wilton. Unfortunately, however, the deductible could be $200,000.
Federal Emergency Declaration for the State of Connecticut
Gov. Lamont asked the White House to authorize a federal emergency declaration for Fairfield County, New Haven County and Litchfield County, in response to the extreme flooding from the historic rainfall these areas received. His request was approved by the President. Wilton was one of a handful of towns in the county singled out for bearing a significant brunt of this historic storm.
A federal emergency declaration clears the way for state agencies to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide federal assistance to help in the emergency recovery efforts already underway, and for federal funds to possibly become available.
I have visited the NRVT, the Wilton Riverbrook YMCA and the businesses along the Norwalk River downtown, to provide their owners with details on how they can report their property damages to the state for possible reimbursement from FEMA. These areas saw a lot of destruction from the storm.
This week, I also took some of our state and federal elected representatives on a tour of Wilton so they could personally see the storm’s impact on our town. Today, I led Congressman Jim Himes and his staff to view the most severely impacted sites in Wilton.
Next Steps for Residents and Business Owners
Below you will find links to various announcements that were sent out this week via the Town website, with important actionable items relevant to everyone in Wilton:
- One: Please register yourself and your loved ones on the Everbridge Emergency Alert System online. Wilton previously used Code Red to notify residents of emergencies, but this database, which contains thousands of Wilton names and contact information, cannot be transferred to Everbridge because of privacy restrictions that prohibit one company from sharing that information with another. If you and your family had an account with Code Red, you must sign up again with Everbridge. Please visit the link above and follow the registration prompts. The process takes less than five minutes, and then you will be set to receive emergency messages automatically.
Severe weather is always a possibility, especially now that we have entered the unpredictable hurricane season, which typically lasts through November. We have all just experienced how fast and ferocious storms can move. Here is the Everbridge link again, and the link to the newsletter that explains all the steps to register.
- Two: We ask that all business and residential property owners, file damage and loss reports to state agencies. A previous announcement was posted about this, with detailed instructions on how to file a report. Business owners should know that storm losses can include damage to property, plus any costs related to business interruption, overtime or ruined equipment. [Here] is a link that will take you to the self-report form, and a link to the previous announcement that explained the program.
Further, there may be some hopeful news next week from the governor’s office. He is working hard to implement a grant program for small businesses impacted by flood damage. More to come on this.
The state is asking that agricultural producers also report their damages and losses. Here are links to the State Agricultural Agency website page dedicated to disaster relief, their self-report page, and our original announcement about this program.
Thank You
We are grateful to Gov. Lamont for his leadership in obtaining this federal declaration, and we are grateful to the many people in Wilton who reached out to thank our police and fire departments, and the DPW and Parks and Recreation crews. They all performed admirably during the crisis and are working so hard now to restore our roads and fields. We owe them our greatest recognition and respect.
Wilton has experienced another historic event to add to the multitude that have occurred in recent times. Storm damage can be expensive and discouraging, but the most important thing is that no one was hurt. The outpouring of offers of help from our citizens was astonishing and deeply appreciated. The support means so much to all of us at Town Hall. Wilton is a special place, even if we are a little muddy at the moment. We will soon be as vibrant as ever, and a little stronger, having tested our resilience and come through the storm.
Toni Boucher
First Selectman
The Town of Wilton