Flooding Forces Families Out of Homes, Damages Roadways

The heavy rainfalls that rocked much of the region Sunday night into Monday have exited the area, but left behind a trail of disaster damaging homes and roadways.

The Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department has been going non-stop since 11:30 p.m. Sunday evening answering several calls for service, according to Fire Marshall Janet Morgan.

Morgan said the calls started out as the run of the mill cellar pumps, but soon became much more serious, because water levels rose much higher than anticipated and the lower lying areas started to be impassable.

According to Morgan Route 47 and 132 were the first to close last night, with Hazel Plain, Jack's Bridge, Route 317 and Transylvania all closed soon after. 

Judson Ave. at West Side flooded and several homes were required to be evacuated with one family ending up spending time at the emergency services building. A vehicle was also swept off Judson Ave. into the water just moments after the occupant made it to safety.  Morgan said this brought a "tense moment" for the Woodbury VFD and Woodbury PD trying to make sure the occupant was out of the vehicle.

Complicating the situation in town, neighboring Southbury requested a tanker and engine to a working structure fire in their town.  Engine 4 and Tanker 9 were sent and a engine from Bethlehem was brought to stand by in case of additional calls in Woodbury on the East side of the river.

Several roads in the area have been damaged in the overnight and morning hours. Although roads have reopened and rain has commenced officials still urge drivers to take caution on the roadways.