This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
09/01/2020 09:45 PMEmergency Management Director Sam DeBurra updated the Board of Selectmen (BOS) on Aug. 24, looking back on Tropical Storm Isaias, providing numbers that illustrated the storm’s destructive effects as well as the difficulty of clean-up efforts.
Town personnel, including police, responded to around 120 calls in the first five hours of the storm, according to DeBurra, and more than 200 in the first 24 hours. More than 60 roads were rendered impassable to emergency vehicles, he said, including around 30 neighborhoods that were blocked off and isolated, some for as long as six days waiting for Eversource crews, which DeBurra called “unfathomable.”
Additionally, seven houses in Madison sustained damage from falling trees or heavy branches, according to DeBurra.
Anything that could be cleared without Eversource’s assistance was addressed by Madison emergency responders and cleaned up by Wednesday night, the day after the storm, according to DeBurra.
Going forward, Town Engineer John Ianacco is making a list of branches still hanging or in danger of falling for Eversource to come mitigate, DeBurra said, and the town is still working to clear debris on the sides of roads.
Town Hall lost Internet service for hours during the storm as well, which DeBurra described as a very big concern for emergency personnel. The town is looking at investing in a satellite backup for if that happens again, according to First Selectman Peggy Lyons.
Selectman Scott Murphy said it was an “honor” to watch Madison’s first responders during the storm, and commended them for their efforts. Lyons said she and others are putting together both short-term fixes ahead of the next storm, as well as adding more long term storm-focused infrastructure to be considered during this year’s budget cycle.