Surveying the Flood Waters in Simsbury

Update on Warner Nursery as of 10 a.m. Tuesday: Don Warner has decided to press on. “After experiencing the worst flooding in the history of our business, we will need to do some clean up and re-grouping. We will, therefore, be closed for the immediate future. However, we will be re-opening as soon as we can in early September. We look forward to seeing all of our loyal customers and friends at that time.”

For the most part, people had looks of curiosity, awe and disbelief on their faces Monday as they surveyed the flooding in Simsbury.

But one face, that of Don Warner, owner of , was different. His face showed worry. His business was under water and he was wondering if this flood might be the final blow to not just this season, but to his business.

“It’s bad,” he said as he stood on Drake Hill Road looking down to where the business is located at 76 Riverside Road.

Warner said this flood is much worse than 2007, and flood insurance only handles so much. Warner knew he was going to lose inventory, and he and others were there until 2 a.m. Monday moving items higher and securing as much as they could. Things in the shop started floating pretty fast, he said.

In 2007, the business was inundated with 3 feet of water and he said he thinks this time it’s going to be worse.   

“I don’t know how much more we can take,” said Warner.

The business cultivates perennials and annuals and to know they have floated away is heartbreaking. Warner said he does not know when the business will reopen.

“We have to do some thinking,” he said.

Betty Hudson has been in her house at what is now 1 Old Bridge Road — she is the only resident on the street, which used to be 45 Drake Hill Road — since 1978. This is not the first time she has been evacuated from her home. In fact, it’s the fifth.

“I’ve been through a lot of floods,” she said Monday as she stood on the Drake Hill bridge not far from her house.

She is staying at a hotel in town. She said when the power goes, she gets out. She is so used to the drill that the whole lower level of the house is basically unused because that is where the floodwaters go.

“I’ve learned not to keep anything there,” said Hudson.

Hudson, who was a state senator in the 1970s, said the house is 100 years old and is surrounded on three sides by water. She figures that several feet of water have poured into her home.

“This is incredible,” said Hudson as she looked at the water tropical storm Irene left behind.

First Selectman Mary Glassman said five occupied homes were evacuated in the Riverside Road area. Two homes are vacant in the affected area.

Flooding continues to be the town’s biggest concern. Most of the cleanup has been taken care of and power restored — 7 percent of CL&P customers were without power at 10 p.m. Monday. But, as they say, it could have been worse.

“We fared pretty well,” said Glassman as she surveyed the flooding on Monday.

She said cleanup is still ongoing as is power restoration and asked for residents to be patient.

She reminded people that the Farmington River is dangerous and will continue to be. She said it’s fast moving, had debris in it and with a sewer pipe breach in Avon, it is also most likely dirty.

“It’s not safe,” said Glassman.

There were a few people who did not heed that message Monday. Three people on inner tubes got stuck against the Flower Bridge and needed to be rescued. Another man was up to his shoulders in water at , but walked out on his own.

While surveying the floodwaters, Simsbury Chief of Police Peter Ingvertsen saw a man ride his bike down Riverside Road up to his waist. Ingvertsen called him back and the biker rode back and left.

There were also reports of youngsters boarding, something like surfing, on the water-filled track at .

No injuries were connected to any of these incidents.

Road worries

Those bubbles that one can see coming from submerged roadways are not a good sign, as that means water is getting underneath the road. Once the water recedes the town may be dealing with another problem. No one is sure what impact the water underneath will have on road conditions, which is a concern for the town's Public Works Director Tom Roy.

When the water recedes he will get a better idea of the damage done. A concern is that erosion could undermine the stability of the roadway. If water is traveling underneath the road and starts pulling away the ground that supports it, soft spots and potholes can develop. What the water is doing to the asphalt is another unanswered question at the moment. 

Another concern if the possibility of debris building up against the Flower Bridge.

With another nice day predicted for Tuesday, residents should not be lulled into thinking the water does not pose a threat. Some roadways will be closed at least until Wednesday, say officials, maybe longer.

The river crested Monday night at 8 p.m. at 17.1 feet, said Roy. Flood state is 12 feet.

“It now will be the fifth highest flood in Simsbury recorded history,” he said.

The next highest on the list is 17.8 feet in 1927. The top spot is held by the August flood of 1955 when the river level reached 30 feet. The second highest is also from 1955.

Roy emphasized that the traffic barriers may be an inconvenience but it’s about safety. Roads closed in Simsbury include Routes 185 and 315, Terry’s Plain, Nod and Riverside roads.

“The roads are closed not because we have any choice, but for everybody’s safety,” he said.

Roy stressed that people should not drive around barriers. Sometimes the danger is not only flooding but there could be downed power lines.

“Sometimes there may be a danger that they’re not aware of,” he said.

Roy said sometimes if you see a vehicle going around the barrier it is because it is an emergency personnel vehicle.

“The barricades are up for a reason,” said and Simsbury Police Lt. Fred Sifodaskalakis.

A car is not going to make it through 3 feet of water, he said.

“If they see a barricade the road is closed — do not try to move the barricade and go around it,” said Sifodaskalakis.

Onlookers

Lorrie Lescarbeau and her daughter Michelle were out looking at the water collected in the parking lot of . The water hadn’t reached the restaurant, but had covered the yard of the Children’s Clubhouse next door.

The two, who live in West Simsbury, said they lost power for two hours. During that time they played UConnopoly. Michelle, a 2008 graduate of Simsbury High School, goes to the University of Connecticut and is about to leave on a three-month trip to South Africa as part of UConn’s nursing program. The two came by the high waters to take photos.

“I’ve never seen it like this,” said Lorrie Lescarbeau.

Avon resident Anna Andrews and her son R.J. Andrews were biking around the area to see the flooding.

“This is amazing,” she said.

Anna Andrews did not lose power and had no water problems in her home. R.J. got one of the last trains out of New York. He wasn’t evacuated; he is traveling later this week and was coming up this way first. He took one of the last trains out of Grand Central Station at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and said travel was pretty mellow. He got the last train from New Haven to Hartford.

During their biking travels the pair said the ninth hole at Blue Fox Run golf course in Avon was completely underwater.

Dean Chapman and his fiancée Michelle Horvath live in Torrington. They had an appointment at the UConn Health Center and were traveling through Simsbury to view the floodwaters. They were looking down Nod Road and checking out the largest tree in the state — the Pinchot Sycamore, which had water up to its lower branches. Chapman said he saw pumpkins and peppers floating in the water on Nod Road.

When he’s not on the air at NBC Connecticut, meteorologist Bob Maxon is just like any other Simsbury resident. And on Monday he was out looking at the flooding.

He said this storm brought 2 1/2 months worth of rain in 12 hours. Simsbury saw about 5.5 to 6 inches of rain, but Canton and New Hartford saw 10 inches.

Maxon, who lost power at his house for 20 hours, said the station has “tons of generators” in case it loses power, which it didn’t. The station made the decision to provide around the clock coverage for 26 hours from 3 p.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“We just committed ourselves to do that,” said Maxon.

The ratings went through the roof, until the power started going out for people.

There were five meteorologists working to cover the storm. He said when you give the worst case scenario people think you are hyping the storm, but “the worse case came true.” Vermont and the Catskills were being ravaged by the storm.

“We’re extremely fortunate,” said Maxon.