Heavy Rains Cause Flooding In Woodbridge

Heavy Rains in the overnight hours of Sunday April 15 and Monday April 16 caused the water level in the West River, which runs parallel to Litchfield Turnpike, to rise several feet.  This rise caused the river to leave it's banks flowing into streets, homes and businesses located along the river.   The flooding caused heavy damage to structures and required the indefinite closing of the Merritt Avenue Bridge.  In addition to property damage the flooding of streets caused traffic to be rerouted at several locations in town.  The Merritt Parkway exit 59 in both directions was closed to vehicular  traffic.  The water's rise also forced some evacuations of residents of the area and the opening of an emergency shelter at the Center School Building.  Several animals from the Woodbridge Animal Shelter had to be rescued.  Fortunately no one was injured during the flooding and most of the flood waters receded by late Monday night.  Currently there is no official estimate on the cost of the flood damage to property, or the cost of additional emergency manpower and equipment used during the emergency.   Representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Administration inspected the affected area today (04-25-07) but no report of their findings is available at this time.