First Selectman Camillo To Declare State Of Emergency

GREENWICH, CT — First Selectman Fred Camillo intends to declare a local state of emergency in Greenwich, as the town continues to clean up from the remnants of Hurricane Ida which pummeled the region earlier this week.

Camillo said he has been in conversation with the town's Risk Management Department, as well as Environmental Affairs, about the declaration which is expected to be signed on Friday. When it becomes official, the town as well as individual residents could be eligible to receive funds to help with recovery.

"It's not a guarantee that people will get reimbursed. The governor (Ned Lamont) did his [emergency declaration], and some people thought that was sufficient, but I spoke with Risk Management and brought my idea about the local declaration, and they thought it absolutely could not hurt," Camillo said. "It's just a case where I'm trying to be very thorough, and make sure that people will have every opportunity available to get reimbursed if at all possible. We don't know if they will be, but certainly we're doing all we can to put things in place for that."

The town is still in the process of assessing damage, which Camillo said is "widespread." A total number of people who have been displaced due to flood damage is not yet known. As of early Friday morning, several roads remained closed due to downed trees and wires, and over 100 people in Greenwich were without power, according to Eversource.

Greenwich, Cos Cob, and Byram libraries are open and can be used as charging stations if needed. The American Red Cross is also helping those who have been displaced by providing shelter.

The Byram River area was hit hard, with eight inches of rain falling in that section of town. A large dock in the river broke loose during the storm and significantly damaged boats nearby.

Camillo praised first responders and volunteers who helped respond to the storm on Wednesday, and continued with cleanup over the past 24 hours.

"The volunteer units, the Greenwich Police Department, Greenwich Fire Department, fleet, Greenwich Emergency Medical Services, Department of Public Works, Parks and Rec, they were all there on the frontlines doing a great job," Camillo said, also mentioning the Tree Division. "Again they showed why we're very lucky in Greenwich to have the workforce we have in place."

In particular, Camillo praised the GPD, GFD, GEMS, the Transportation Authority of Greenwich, and the CT Department of Public Health who helped evacuate 46 people from Regalcare, a rehabilitation center on King Street, during the storm on Wednesday night. The facility flooded, and 44 people were taken to Greenwich Woods. Two critical care patients were transported to Greenwich Hospital.

More information on the emergency declaration is expected to come after Camillo makes it official.