Bristol schools will close early.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
January 26, 2011
January 12, 2011
A helping hand in the snow
Nathan White, left, and Shawn Kruse on Lufkin Lane after helping a neighbor with her snowblower this morning. Photo provided by Chloe White Kruse. (Thanks, Chloe!)
If anybody's got any good pictures from today's storm that you don't mind us publishing online or in the paper, send them to me at bristolpress@gmail.com. Be sure to identify anyone pictured in them and give me your name, too. Any help is appreciated.
*****Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 30, 2010
Tornado damage too little for federal help
A tornado that ripped through the heart of Bristol last month, downing hundreds of trees without injuring or killing anyone, failed to do enough damage for the city to qualify for federal disaster relief.
Though officials tallied a bit more than $500,000 in damage suffered by public and private property owners, the number fell well short of the level required to trigger federal help.
That means that residents whose insurance failed to cover all of their costs are going to get stuck with the bills and city taxpayers are going to have to cough up the cash to cover swollen overtime tabs for municipal workers who cleaned up much of the debris from the July 21 tornado.
There remains a small chance that the federal Small Business Administration may offer low-interest loans to assist businesses slammed by the tornado.
The city totaled up its own costs and heard from dozens of residents who also got clobbered by the storm.
Raymond and Katherine Guimond of 128-130 Blakeslee St., the hardest hit area of town, reported to the mayor’s office that they lost at least 15 trees and expected to be out at least $5,000 for the cost of hauling away the downed timber.
High Street resident Elizabeth Banks reported that a 150-year-old tulip tree smashed through her garage, destroying the building. She estimated the damage to her property at $71,396.
The manager of the company that owns the Shoppes at Larson Farms, Stephen Larson, said that “during the mayhem” at the height of the storm, “the winds took the top off our pylon sign and tossed it into the middle of Route 6.”
“We thank God no one was injured or killed,” Larson added.
Combined with the loss of some metal sheeting on the L.A. Fitness building, the plaza suffered $6,118 worth of damage that insurance won’t cover, he said.
Mayor Art Ward said he’s sorry that so many people are going to be stuck with cleanup and repair costs.
On the other hand, he said, he’s glad the storm wasn’t any worse.
In order to have a shot at Federal Emergency Management Agency aid, the mayor said, the storm would have to cause at least $2.7 million worth of damage in Hartford County and more than $4.2 million statewide. He said that even when Bristol added in the damage in Plainville and New Britain, it fell well short of the required levels.
The SBA may be able to assist a bit, however.
Ward said that if 25 or more business owners report damage, the SBA can offer low-interest loans to help them get back on their feet. It isn’t clear whether enough companies need the help, though.
The single biggest tally for damages came from the Park Department, which estimated it lost $75,000 worth of trees, most of them at Rockwell Park and Muzzy Field.
Ward said the city will have to absorb its large overtime and other expenses just as it would if it was hit with a major blizzard or ice storm.
For now, departments are dipping into their normal budgets to pay the cost, but it’s likely some will need additional appropriations this fiscal year to cover normal operating expenses after coping with the tornado’s aftermath.
Ward said he’s not sure how the Board of Finance will choose to handle the situation.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Though officials tallied a bit more than $500,000 in damage suffered by public and private property owners, the number fell well short of the level required to trigger federal help.
That means that residents whose insurance failed to cover all of their costs are going to get stuck with the bills and city taxpayers are going to have to cough up the cash to cover swollen overtime tabs for municipal workers who cleaned up much of the debris from the July 21 tornado.
There remains a small chance that the federal Small Business Administration may offer low-interest loans to assist businesses slammed by the tornado.
The city totaled up its own costs and heard from dozens of residents who also got clobbered by the storm.
Raymond and Katherine Guimond of 128-130 Blakeslee St., the hardest hit area of town, reported to the mayor’s office that they lost at least 15 trees and expected to be out at least $5,000 for the cost of hauling away the downed timber.
High Street resident Elizabeth Banks reported that a 150-year-old tulip tree smashed through her garage, destroying the building. She estimated the damage to her property at $71,396.
The manager of the company that owns the Shoppes at Larson Farms, Stephen Larson, said that “during the mayhem” at the height of the storm, “the winds took the top off our pylon sign and tossed it into the middle of Route 6.”
“We thank God no one was injured or killed,” Larson added.
Combined with the loss of some metal sheeting on the L.A. Fitness building, the plaza suffered $6,118 worth of damage that insurance won’t cover, he said.
Mayor Art Ward said he’s sorry that so many people are going to be stuck with cleanup and repair costs.
On the other hand, he said, he’s glad the storm wasn’t any worse.
In order to have a shot at Federal Emergency Management Agency aid, the mayor said, the storm would have to cause at least $2.7 million worth of damage in Hartford County and more than $4.2 million statewide. He said that even when Bristol added in the damage in Plainville and New Britain, it fell well short of the required levels.
The SBA may be able to assist a bit, however.
Ward said that if 25 or more business owners report damage, the SBA can offer low-interest loans to help them get back on their feet. It isn’t clear whether enough companies need the help, though.
The single biggest tally for damages came from the Park Department, which estimated it lost $75,000 worth of trees, most of them at Rockwell Park and Muzzy Field.
Ward said the city will have to absorb its large overtime and other expenses just as it would if it was hit with a major blizzard or ice storm.
For now, departments are dipping into their normal budgets to pay the cost, but it’s likely some will need additional appropriations this fiscal year to cover normal operating expenses after coping with the tornado’s aftermath.
Ward said he’s not sure how the Board of Finance will choose to handle the situation.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 23, 2010
City facing big cleanup after tornado
Crews are still trying to cope with the damage left by a tornado that tore a path Wednesday afternoon from Rockwell Park to Middle Street.
The National Weather Service said the twister ripped off tree tops and plucked other trees right out of the ground as it cut for a mile and a half through the heart of Bristol, leaving a swath of debris but no injuries or deaths.
With a maximum wind speed of 90 miles an hour, the weather service rated the tornado a relatively mild one with a 25-yard wide path that began near the city’s historic West End park.
The worst-hit section, along Blakeslee Street, saw trees snapped and broken for much of its length.
City public works crews said they had a tough time cutting their way through a sea of fallen trees left by the tornado along the road that cuts between Federal Hill and Riverside Avenue, including the Huntington Woods complex.
The “shearing off and twisting of tree tops,” some flung in opposite directions, is characteristic of a small tornado, weather service experts said in a statement released late Thursday.
At Rockwell Park, trees were knocked to the ground along the outfield fence of Muzzy Field, the basketball court and elsewhere, but despite the widespread damage, none of the park’s buildings or major facilities got hit.
As the storm rolled into town, the sky turned ominously dark, the wind howled and rain fell with Biblical fervor, drenching low-lying areas and turning many Federal Hill streets into raging torrents.
On Riverside Avenue, the wind shoved a Dumpster several feet, according to T.J. Barnes, and on Main Street the waters gushing downhill were strong enough to carry off a Press vending box. Click here for full story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 22, 2010
Tornado started near Rockwell Park, weather service says
National Weather Service release:
855 PM EDT THU JUL 22 2010
...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN BRISTOL IN HARTFORD COUNTY CT...
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
855 PM EDT THU JUL 22 2010
...TORNADO CONFIRMED IN BRISTOL IN HARTFORD COUNTY CT...
LOCATION...BRISTOL IN HARTFORD COUNTY CT DATE...JULY 21 2010 ESTIMATED TIME...415 PM EDT MAXIMUM EF-SCALE RATING...EF1 ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...90 MPH MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...25 YARDS PATH LENGTH...1.5 MILES BEGINNING LAT/LON...41.67N / 72.96W ENDING LAT/LON...41.67N / 72.93W * FATALITIES...0 * INJURIES...0 * THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT(S) AND PUBLICATION IN NWS STORM DATA. ...SUMMARY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON MA HAS CONFIRMED A TORNADO IN BRISTOL IN HARTFORD COUNTY CT ON JULY 21 2010. A BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED ON THE EAST SIDE OF ROCKWELL PARK AND HAD AN INTERMITTENT DAMAGE PATH /MOSTLY AT TREE TOP LEVEL/ TO THE END OF HIGH STREET. STRAIGHT LINE WINDS APPEARED TO BE THE MAIN CAUSE OF DAMAGE IN THIS AREA...HOWEVER...DAMAGE FROM A SMALL AND BRIEF TORNADO WAS ALSO EVIDENT...MAINLY DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE TREE DAMAGE ON BLAKESLEE AND HIGH STREETS WHERE TREE TOPS WERE TWISTED OFF AND OTHER TREES WERE FELLED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THE SHEARING OFF AND TWISTING OF TREE TOPS WAS CONSISTENT WITH LOW END EF1 TORNADO DAMAGE. THE DAMAGE PATH WAS 1.5 MILES LONG /INTERMITTENT/ AND ABOUT 25 YARDS WIDE. DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF AROUND 90 MPH WHICH IS CLASSIFIED AS EF-1 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS STORM SURVEY...AS WELL AS THE MAYOR OF BRISTOL AND CITY EMPLOYEES. WE ALSO THANK THE CITY EMPLOYEES OF PLAINVILLE. AFTER VISITING BRISTOL...NWS EMPLOYEES SURVEYED THE DAMAGE IN PLAINVILLE...WHICH WAS CONSISTENT WITH 60-70 MPH STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...MAINLY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF PADEREWSKI LAKE IN THE VICINITY OF BIRCHTREE ROAD. THERE WAS NO SOLID EVIDENCE OF TORNADIC ACTIVITY IN PLAINVILLE. THIS INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/BOX. FOR REFERENCE...THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: EF0...WIND SPEEDS 65 TO 85 MPH. EF1...WIND SPEEDS 86 TO 110 MPH. EF2...WIND SPEEDS 111 TO 135 MPH. EF3...WIND SPEEDS 136 TO 165 MPH. EF4...WIND SPEEDS 166 TO 200 MPH. EF5...WIND SPEEDS GREATER THAN 200 MPH. $$ EKSTER/GOULD*******
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Tornado touched down near downtown yesterday
A powerful storm that ripped through the center of Bristol Wednesday included a tornado that tore a path down Blakeslee Street, the hardest hit section of town.
The National Weather Service determined Thursday that a tornado touched down briefly near Blakeslee and High streets, twisting off tree tops and uprooting several old trees completely.
With a maximum wind speed of 90 miles an hour, weather experts said, the damage path was 1.5 miles long and 25 yards wide.
City public works crews said they had a tough time cutting their way through a sea of fallen trees left by the tornado along the road that cuts between Federal Hill and Riverside Avenue, including the Huntington Woods complex.
In the wake a powerful punch from Mother Nature shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday that tossed trees to the ground, ripped off roofs and flooded streets, the city is seeking disaster relief to help cover the cost of dealing with the mess left behind.
Mayor Art Ward said Thursday the city was “very, very, very fortunate” that nobody was injured or killed as the storm swept across Bristol.
The mayor said the American Red Cross sheltered about 10 people last night at a hotel in Terryville after the roofs were torn off their homes on North Main Street.
Ward said the designation of the tornado should help the city get disaster relief from the state and federal government.
Surveying the damage across town this morning, Ward said he was surprised how concentrated most of the destruction was. It mostly followed a corridor across the central part of the city that included Rockwell Park, Federal Hill, Memorial Boulevard and Frederick Street, the mayor said.
But several public works employees who have been cleaning up across town said that none of the damage elsewhere compared with the devastation on Blakeslee Street.
On the enhanced Fujita scale used to rate tornados, the twister that struck the area was classified as Ef-1, the weather service said.
Ward said the storm was “definitely different” from anything he’s seen before.
“It definitely has to be classified as something other than a storm,” the mayor said. “When you look at the trees and how they remained after being impacted, literally trees were twisted. Some were just uprooted” while others were “cut off at the bottom, almost like a chainsaw” and still others cut off near their crests.
Ward said the “real darkness” at the height of the storm as well as the stunning amount of rain and hail was unique, too.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said it seemed like someone flipped a switch and everything got dark on Middle Street shortly before hail and heavy rains started falling.
Given all the trees that came down, Ward said, the city is lucky that nobody got hurt or killed. Trees hit more than a few homes and vehicles, but didn’t clobber anyone in the process.
The mayor said he had no idea something so unusual was coming.
Ward said he was talking to a woman in his office shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday when he noticed that that it was growing dark outside his window. Then the rain began falling with growing intensity.
The mayor said it kept coming down harder and getting darker. When the hail began falling, too, he said, “I think we’re in trouble here.”
In no time, Ward said, the phones began ringing and sirens filled the air outside. Power went off at City Hall.
Ward said he soon declared a state of emergency and opened the emergency operations center about 5 p.m. to coordinate the city’s response.
About 5:30 p.m., Richard Ladisky, the city’s emergency management director, rushed into the police station. He said he’d been called in to help with the crisis, which he didn’t yet know much about.
Ward said he stayed until 11 p.m. and then returned this morning at 6 a.m. One officer on hand at the command center this morning had been working since 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the mayor said.
“I really want to express my appreciation to all of the city workers and the citizens. Everybody was absolutely superb. I did not hear one single complaint,” Ward said.
He said he has been especially impressed that the first question from almost everyone to him has been to inquire whether anyone got hurt. That says something about the community’s character, Ward said.
Cockayne said that all over town, people came together to help each other.
“It’s amazing to see the type of community we live in,” he said. “City workers did a tremendous job and when they weren’t around, people took care of business themselves” to clear roads and remove dangerous limbs.
Ward said that towing companies pulled cars out of danger for free, a tree company offered to help homeowners’ who can’t afford to pay for tree removals and many people rose to the challenge to lend a hand to neighbors.
“People have answered the call,” the mayor said. “They showed a can-do attitude and a caring for others.”
In the first real test of the city’s emergency preparedness since he took office in 2007, Ward said, “Everything went off without any hitches.”
Ward said he called for state and federal assistance Wednesday to get the wheels in motion for financial and other assistance for anyone seeking help. The city will have overtime costs and its own repair tab, the mayor said.
“It’ll cost us some time and money and labor to get back to normal. But Bristol has always responded well in times of emergency,” Ward said.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The morning after
Mayor Art Ward said this morning the city was “very, very, very fortunate” that nobody was injured or killed as the storm swept across Bristol shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The mayor said the American Red Cross sheltered about 10 people last night at a hotel in Terryville after the roofs were torn off their homes on North Main Street.
Surveying the damage across town this morning, Ward said he was surprised how concentrated most of the destruction was. It mostly followed a corridor across the central part of the city that included Rockwell Park, Federal Hill, Memorial Boulevard and Frederick Street, the mayor said.
Power remains out in parts of town, including Lake Compounce. Ward said utility crews are trying to get electricity restored to the park in time for it to open normally at 11 a.m. today.
The park’s website – lakecompounce.com – will be updated to inform patrons when the power is restored.
Ward said he doesn’t know if the rampant talk of twisters or tornadoes is on the mark, but the storm was “definitely different” from anything he’s seen before.
“It definitely has to be classified as something other than a storm,” the mayor said. “When you look at the trees and how they remained after being impacted, literally trees were twisted. Some were just uprooted” while others were “cut off at the bottom, almost like a chainsaw” and still others cut off near their crests.
Ward said the “real darkness” at the height of the storm as well as the stunning amount of rain and hail was unique, too.
Given all the trees that came down, Ward said, the city is lucky that nobody got hurt or killed. Trees hit more than a few homes and vehicles, but didn’t clobber anyone in the process.
The mayor said he had no idea something so unusual was coming.
Ward said he was talking to a woman in his office shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday when he noticed that that it was growing dark outside his window. Then the rain began falling with growing intensity.
The mayor said it kept coming down harder and getting darker. When the hail began falling, too, he said, “I think we’re in trouble here.”
In no time, Ward said, the phones began ringing and sirens filled the air outside. Power went off at City Hall.
Ward said he soon declared a state of emergency and opened the emergency operations center about 5 p.m. to coordinate the city’s response.
About 5:30 p.m., Richard Ladisky, the city’s emergency management director, rushed into the police station. He said he’d been called in to help with the crisis, which he didn’t yet know much about.
Ward said he stayed until 11 p.m. and then returned this morning at 6 a.m. One officer on hand at the command center this morning had been working since 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the mayor said.
“I really want to express my appreciation to all of the city workers and the citizens. Everybody was absolutely superb. I did not hear one single complaint,” Ward said.
He said he has been especially impressed that the first question from almost everyone to him has been to inquire whether anyone got hurt. That says something about the community’s character, Ward said.
In the first real test of the city’s emergency preparedness since he took office in 2007, Ward said, “Everything went off without any hitches.”
Ward said he called for state and federal assistance Wednesday to get the wheels in motion for financial and other assistance for anyone seeking help. The city will have overtime costs and its own repair tab, the mayor said.
“It’ll cost us some time and money and labor to get back to normal. But Bristol has always responded well in times of emergency,” Ward said.
I'm not sure who emailed the picture above last night, but thank you for sharing it!
I'm not sure who emailed the picture above last night, but thank you for sharing it!
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 21, 2010
Storm pictures from Huntington Woods area
Here are some pictures that Joe Bak took in Huntington Woods and nearby:
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Thank you, Joe, for sharing your pictures!
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Wicked storm
The storm that slammed Bristol really did a number on the town.There are trees and limbs down all over the place, including one that clobbered the sign for the Congregational Church on Federal Hill and another that splintered the outfield fence at Muzzy Field.
It looked like Rockwell Park got the worst of it.
To Theresa Jarry, it looked like "a war zone" with all the trees shattered.
The basketball court got two different limbs crashing through parts of its fence. Two trees beside Muzzy Field buried someone's pickup truck. And dozens of trees were tossed hither and yon.
"I'm very surprised with all the trees down," said Christa Finn, who lives beside Muzzy Feld. She said that during the storm she could see wind and rain spinning outside.
Brendan Finn woke up from a nap after hearing a loud crack outside. He peered out the window to see "rain spinning" like a whirlwind.
Martin Finn was coming over Rattlesnake Mountain on Route 6 when the storm hit. He said he saw a big power line come down, arcing electricity in a spectacular show.
He said it took him an hour to find a route home because "every road was cut off" by all the fallen trees and power lines.
Morgan Finn said she was rehearsing at the Congregational Church for the Get Up Stage Company's summer production of "Rent" when the storm hit.
Someone called to warn of a tornado watch, she said, but the company kept on singing.
Then the storm hit, with lights flickering "like something out of a horror movie."
A tree fell outside, she said, and everyone screamed.
Power went out in many places, including the library and City Hall, where the Park Board meeting got KO'd by the storm.
Park employees trying to clean up said they'd rarely seen such a mess.
Police said there were tons of trees down but they didn't think anyone got hurt.
Note: The picture at the top was taken by Angela Ziogas, who kindly gave me permission to post it here.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 29, 2009
Emergency shelter opened at senior center
Note from Mayor Art Ward:
As a result of the gusting winds and extremely cold temperatures, the gymnasium at the Bristol Senior Center was opened as a temporary shelter for those experiencing power outages and was staffed by members of the Bristol CERT Team.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
As a result of the gusting winds and extremely cold temperatures, the gymnasium at the Bristol Senior Center was opened as a temporary shelter for those experiencing power outages and was staffed by members of the Bristol CERT Team.
At the time, the city was experiencing over 18,000 wind-related power outages throughout the city and extremely high winds were causing street light outages and falling limbs in many areas.
Authorities have informed us that most, if not all, of the power should be restored within the next two hours and that the gusting winds should diminish within the next 3 to 4 hours,
We will continue to monitor the situation until we deem that the shelter is no longer needed.
Update at 6:20 p.m. -- Read reporter Freesia Singngam's story about the weather woes.
Update at 6:20 p.m. -- Read reporter Freesia Singngam's story about the weather woes.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Power out in Plainville & part of Bristol
The wind knocked out power to nearly everyone in Plainville and 15 percent of Bristol, too, according to Connecticut Light & Power's outage report website.
That means, God forbid, some people may not have power for their computers and are thus, heaven help them, unable to read the Bristol Blog. Let's hope most of them have charged-up laptops so they can stay with us.
Don't worry, folks, help is on the way. The power company is pretty good at getting the juice flowing again.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
That means, God forbid, some people may not have power for their computers and are thus, heaven help them, unable to read the Bristol Blog. Let's hope most of them have charged-up laptops so they can stay with us.
Don't worry, folks, help is on the way. The power company is pretty good at getting the juice flowing again.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
September 27, 2009
Come rain or come shine
The Mum Parade is on for today. It's gonna be a wet one.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 28, 2009
City braces for possible flooding
Though Danny is faltering over colder water offshore, the weakening tropical storm is still expected to dump a lot of rain on Connecticut before it moves on.
To prepare for the potential flooding, city officials are handing out sandbags, priming pumps and making sure that equipment is ready to roll in case it’s needed.
“Everybody’s going over checklists,” Mayor Art Ward said Friday.
With forecasters predicting periods of heavy rain, residents in flood-prone sections of the city – particularly along Copper Mine Brook – are hoping the water doesn’t rise too much this time.
Officials announced Friday that sandbags were available at firehouses on Mix Street and Vincent P. Kelly Road. The latter also had sand piled outside the neighboring animal shelter.
Some residents were taking advantage the opportunity, officials said. Ward said many just want a few bags to block off doors that can let water flow in if creeks rise outside.
The first bouts of heavy rain began falling Friday. The rain is expected continue into Saturday, making for a potentially soggy end to August.
The threat of rain led officials to cancel a number of events this weekend, including a major community health rally at Rockwell Park.
Though flooding hasn’t been too bad the last couple of years, there were at least four serous floods in Bristol between 2004 and 2007.
The main cause, experts have said, is that open space is vanishing, creating fewer places to sop up the water and speeding its flow downstream into creeks that never had to handle so much flow in decades past.
Ward has asked U.S. Rep. John Larson, the East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol, to try to secure federal money and help for Bristol’s flooding problems. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already indicated it may be able to help.
Ward said Friday the city is waiting on word about federal funding for a $350,000 study to pinpoint what it needs to do.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
To prepare for the potential flooding, city officials are handing out sandbags, priming pumps and making sure that equipment is ready to roll in case it’s needed.
“Everybody’s going over checklists,” Mayor Art Ward said Friday.
With forecasters predicting periods of heavy rain, residents in flood-prone sections of the city – particularly along Copper Mine Brook – are hoping the water doesn’t rise too much this time.
Officials announced Friday that sandbags were available at firehouses on Mix Street and Vincent P. Kelly Road. The latter also had sand piled outside the neighboring animal shelter.
Some residents were taking advantage the opportunity, officials said. Ward said many just want a few bags to block off doors that can let water flow in if creeks rise outside.
The first bouts of heavy rain began falling Friday. The rain is expected continue into Saturday, making for a potentially soggy end to August.
The threat of rain led officials to cancel a number of events this weekend, including a major community health rally at Rockwell Park.
Though flooding hasn’t been too bad the last couple of years, there were at least four serous floods in Bristol between 2004 and 2007.
The main cause, experts have said, is that open space is vanishing, creating fewer places to sop up the water and speeding its flow downstream into creeks that never had to handle so much flow in decades past.
Ward has asked U.S. Rep. John Larson, the East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol, to try to secure federal money and help for Bristol’s flooding problems. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already indicated it may be able to help.
Ward said Friday the city is waiting on word about federal funding for a $350,000 study to pinpoint what it needs to do.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
City has sandbags ready for storm
Press release from the mayor's office:
* * * In anticipation of the forecast of heavy rains, the City has provided access to a sufficient supply of sand and sand bags.* * *
Firehouse #4 [Mix Street] has an ample supply of sand bags;
Firehouse #5 [Vincent P. Kelly Road] has sand bags; and there is an ample supply of sand stockpiled outside the dog pound on Vincent P. Kelly Road.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
* * * In anticipation of the forecast of heavy rains, the City has provided access to a sufficient supply of sand and sand bags.* * *
Firehouse #4 [Mix Street] has an ample supply of sand bags;
Firehouse #5 [Vincent P. Kelly Road] has sand bags; and there is an ample supply of sand stockpiled outside the dog pound on Vincent P. Kelly Road.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 27, 2009
Rockwell Park event postponed
Rockwell in the Park, Family Fun and Fitness has been postponed due to weather conditions and the uncertainty of this weekends storm. Rescheduled date is Saturday, September 19, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Rockwell Park. For questions please contact Cindy Scoville at the Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce at (860)314-2101 or Linda Mannarino at the Bristol Hospital Wellness Center at (860)314-2087.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 2, 2009
More snow
I'm ready for spring. Really.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
February 3, 2009
Meetings KO'd tonight
Two city meetings this evening -- the Pine Lake Committee and GASB 45 Committee -- have been cancelled because of the weather. When they are rescheduled, I'll try to post the new times here.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 14, 2009
Ward says to get ready for a big chill
Press release from Mayor Art Ward, just in:
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor addresses Cold Weather Alert from Governor
Bristol, CT, January 14, 2009— In a prepared release, Mayor Arthur J. Ward stated, “The Governor has issued and extreme weather alert for the next three days. Connecticut is expected to have temperatures way below zero with a wind chill factor that will hold it in the single and possibly negative digits.” The Mayor has contacted the Chief of Police, John DiVenere, the Executive Director of Bristol Community Organization, Thomas Morrow, Katherine Plourde of Bristol Community Services and Phillip Lysiak of the Saint Vincent DePaul Shelter. These are the key sources for keeping the Mayor’s Office apprised of the homeless situation and heating requests for the disadvantaged and elderly.
Chief DiVenere told the Mayor’s Office, “The police have regular interaction with many of the homeless in Bristol. As we locate them we will be directing them to the local shelters. We also respond to complaints from residents who have no heat or oil and direct them to the proper agency.”
Tom Morrow, Executive Director of the Bristol Community Organization stated, “Due to the extreme cold weather BCO will be giving priority assistance to any household in our catchment area (Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth and Farmington) that is in danger of running out of fuel oil. Any household in this situation should call BCO at 584-2725 or come into our offices at 55 South Street, Bristol, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. We will be closed Monday, January 19, for the Martin Luther King holiday.”
Phil Lysiak, Executive Director of Saint Vincent DePaul Shelter in Bristol told the Mayor’s Office that they are holding steady and are ready to address any emergency situations. Katherine Plourde of Bristol Community Services and co-Chair with Tom Morrow of the Mayor’s Winter ’09 Meeting stated, “The Winter 09 Committee has been planning for the very cold weather since July. This is specifically what we have been tasked to address. We are confident that there are agencies and systems in place to meet the needs of Bristol residents who find themselves with no heat. We also have referrals for people who need meals and warm clothing.”
The Governor stressed in her message to the cities that agencies and citizens use "211" as a resource for information on the shelters and also for individuals and families looking for heating oil or energy assistance.
Mayor Ward said, “This is extremely harsh weather and hard on many more families and individuals than in past years, due to the dismal economic climate. The City of Bristol has caring, competent agencies to help those in need. Please stay in contact with family members, relatives and friends, especially the elderly and families with small children who may be in a perilous situation.”
In addition, the Mayor stated, “We ask that all citizens take care of their pets in this frigid weather and keep them safe from the plummeting temperatures.”
Bristol, CT, January 14, 2009— In a prepared release, Mayor Arthur J. Ward stated, “The Governor has issued and extreme weather alert for the next three days. Connecticut is expected to have temperatures way below zero with a wind chill factor that will hold it in the single and possibly negative digits.” The Mayor has contacted the Chief of Police, John DiVenere, the Executive Director of Bristol Community Organization, Thomas Morrow, Katherine Plourde of Bristol Community Services and Phillip Lysiak of the Saint Vincent DePaul Shelter. These are the key sources for keeping the Mayor’s Office apprised of the homeless situation and heating requests for the disadvantaged and elderly.
Chief DiVenere told the Mayor’s Office, “The police have regular interaction with many of the homeless in Bristol. As we locate them we will be directing them to the local shelters. We also respond to complaints from residents who have no heat or oil and direct them to the proper agency.”
Tom Morrow, Executive Director of the Bristol Community Organization stated, “Due to the extreme cold weather BCO will be giving priority assistance to any household in our catchment area (Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth and Farmington) that is in danger of running out of fuel oil. Any household in this situation should call BCO at 584-2725 or come into our offices at 55 South Street, Bristol, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. We will be closed Monday, January 19, for the Martin Luther King holiday.”
Phil Lysiak, Executive Director of Saint Vincent DePaul Shelter in Bristol told the Mayor’s Office that they are holding steady and are ready to address any emergency situations. Katherine Plourde of Bristol Community Services and co-Chair with Tom Morrow of the Mayor’s Winter ’09 Meeting stated, “The Winter 09 Committee has been planning for the very cold weather since July. This is specifically what we have been tasked to address. We are confident that there are agencies and systems in place to meet the needs of Bristol residents who find themselves with no heat. We also have referrals for people who need meals and warm clothing.”
The Governor stressed in her message to the cities that agencies and citizens use "211" as a resource for information on the shelters and also for individuals and families looking for heating oil or energy assistance.
Mayor Ward said, “This is extremely harsh weather and hard on many more families and individuals than in past years, due to the dismal economic climate. The City of Bristol has caring, competent agencies to help those in need. Please stay in contact with family members, relatives and friends, especially the elderly and families with small children who may be in a perilous situation.”
In addition, the Mayor stated, “We ask that all citizens take care of their pets in this frigid weather and keep them safe from the plummeting temperatures.”
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
December 18, 2008
City prepares for Friday snowstorm
Public Works Director Walter Veselka said that snowplow operators and other necessary personnel are going to start getting ready at 7 a.m. to deal with Friday's predicted storm.
Veselka said that forecasters have told the city to expect the snow to begin about 10:30 a.m. and continue until about 9 p.m., with the heaviest snowfall between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. He said it is likely to total between 6 and 10 inches in Bristol.
This year, for the first time, the city is using an ice melting chemical across town. It should cut down on the sand and grit on city roads.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
June 9, 2008
Bristol schools to close early again on Tuesday
It won’t shock anyone to learn that it got mighty hot Monday.
School Superintendent Philip Streifer said that some of the elementary schools had temperatures above 90 degrees in the morning.
That’s why Bristol, along with Plymouth and many other districts across Connecticut, opted to send students home early rather than risk further exposure to high heat.
Streifer said that given the forecasts for Tuesday, “We’re going to do the same thing again tomorrow.”
Streifer said that officials have already made the decision to shut down early again on Tuesday to help parents make arrangements.
The heat wave is expected to break Tuesday night.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
School Superintendent Philip Streifer said that some of the elementary schools had temperatures above 90 degrees in the morning.
That’s why Bristol, along with Plymouth and many other districts across Connecticut, opted to send students home early rather than risk further exposure to high heat.
Streifer said that given the forecasts for Tuesday, “We’re going to do the same thing again tomorrow.”
Streifer said that officials have already made the decision to shut down early again on Tuesday to help parents make arrangements.
The heat wave is expected to break Tuesday night.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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