Lieutenant governor joins mayor for briefing on flood prevention in Bristol

Posted By: Jack Krampitz August 23, 2021

By Jack Krampitz

Tuesday morning, as rainfall intensified, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu discussed the effects of Tropical Storm Henri and the proactive steps Bristol has taken to alleviate any possible flooding concerns from heavy storms at a news conference in the center of Forestville by the Pequabuck River.

They were joined by department heads on location at Thomas W. Quinlan Forestville Veterans Park.

Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz confer prior to the press conference at Quinlan Veteran’s Memorial Park, Forestville, regarding storm water management in Bristol. (Photo by J. Krampitz)

The lieutenant governor stated that she was touring the Western region of Connecticut and was pleased with the response to the storm by Bristol and other entities, like Eversource, who she said was much better prepared for the storm this year after several problems in the past.

Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz stressed that people should use common sense in dealing with a strong storm, should not drive through large bodies of standing water, should not attempt to swim or boat in a fast-moving river, and should stay away from downed power lines.

Robert Longo, Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department, explained how the reservoirs were drained of their 100 percent capacity so they would not overflow into the brooks and streams that flow into the Pequabuck River.

In the chart above, provided to us by Mr. Rogozinski, you can see that the storm last Thursday, which brought torrential rain over just a few hours, brought the River to a much higher level than yesterday and today.

If the reservoirs were allowed to stay at 100 percent, Mr. Longo stated, a major storm could result in flooding of the Pequabuck in troublesome areas like Forestville center, where serious flooding has occurred in the past.

Ray Rogozinski, Public Works Superintendent, explained how the city tracks the height of the Pequabuck to know when it has reached a dangerous level. There is a tracking station on the River that measures its height above normal levels. Mr. Rogozinski said that a burst of several inches in a short span is much more dangerous than more rain spread out over 24 hours or even a few days.

Mayor Ellen Zoppo Sassu, along side Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, introduces the city workers who prepped the water systems prior to Tropical Storm Henri. (TBE video by J. Krampitz)
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz in Bristol to discuss Tropical Storm Henri, the measures Bristol took to reduce flooding and lingering concerns the day after the storm. (TBE video by J. Krampitz)
Bristol department heads answer storm-related questions about Tropical Storm Henri and the techniques they used to prevent flooding of the city’s rivers. (TBE video by J. Krampitz)