[Updated] Flooding on Cherry Brook Road, Elsewhere

Late Monday night, firefighters continued to respond to homes with serious flooding issues. 

"We're been at it since 1:00 this morning. And we're still responding to dispatches for assistance, and likely will be throughout the evening,” said Richard Hutchings, chief of the Town of Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department. "There are volunteer firefighters and EMTs who have been working this emergency situation since early this morning. And they are still here.”

That first emergency call for a flooded basement about 1 a.m. was from a homeowner on Pine Acres, according to the department. Shortly after, calls from Cherry Brook Road residents began to pour in.

A report of a submerged furnace and several feet of water at one Cherry Brook Road home was followed by calls for water problems at two neighboring homes further up the road. The rushing stream breached one driveway, stranding the homeowner and damaging her car.

The fire and public works departments brought sand bags to the area as they did in a few other places throughout the day. 

The spillway at Nepaug Reservoir crested over, pouring water into backyards and basements along Powder Mill Road.

Fire crews were also dispatched to: an apartment on Albany Turnpike that reported smoke in a flooded basement; a home on Dyer Avenue with water rising around an oil burner; electrical appliances under water in a basement on Wright Road; and flooded basements on Gracey and Doyle Roads. 

Approximately 20 volunteer firefighters, EMTs, Fire Police and Cadets, from the Town of Canton Volunteer Fire & EMS Department, responded to the calls and remain on standby, according to a department release.  

2nd Deputy Chief Craig Robbins, Fire Captains Wayne Goeben, Steve LaPointe and volunteer firefighter Scott Goeben were managing resources from multiple sites up and down Cherry Brook Road and throughout town, according to a department release. Command used Engines 1, 3 & 4; Rescue 9, Squad 5, Utility 8 and the ambulance to shuttle personnel and equipment between sites.

Town fire marshal Adam B. Libros and building official William Rich  also responded to several of the calls, assessing structure safety and other issues.

Due to limited manpower and resources, the fire department can only respond to water issues at homes where safety is an issue or where the electrical panel is in

danger of getting flooded or the furnace is in danger of being submerged. 

On  Monday, the number that reached that criteria was high. 

"In the Town of Canton Volunteer Fire & EMS Department, you have people who are willing to leave their jobs to  help their neighbors,” Hutchings said. "You have people who are willing to leave their own family circumstances, to make sure that their community is safe. You have people who are highly trained, obviously committed and recognize that the sacrifice they make is part of the nature and service of being a volunteer firefighter or EMT from Canton. And Canton can be very proud of that.”

Also Monday, Public Works also has crews with a loaders on local streets including Dunne and Bridge Streets, the area of a washout, and Doyle Road.

“Doyle Road really took a beating overnight,” Director Robert Martin said. 

The sun will help dry some of the water but Martin cautioned drivers to be careful later, especially in areas where shade was prevalent today. 

“Anything in the shade may freeze up later,” he said. 

Meanwhile, area officials were keeping an eye on the Farmington River, especially in parts of Unionville and Simsbury. 

If the Farmington River in Simsbury reaches 16 feet, evacuations could be necessary from various roads in Avon and Simsbury, including Riverside Road in Simsbury, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service reissued a flood warning Monday morning, after the Farmington River reached 15.4 feet at Unionville. Flood stage is at 12 feet.

The flood warning is in effect until Tuesday evening.

Low-lying sections of Bloomfield and East Granby could be affected as well.

In addition, the warning predicted flooding in Simsbury, where the river is predicted to reach 15.8 feet by Tuesday morning.

State Police Spokesman Lt. Paul Vance advised drivers not to try to drive through the water and Farmington Police warned that anyone seen removing barricades to pass through closed roads would be arrested.

Gov. Dannel Malloy activated the Emergency Operations Center just before 8 a.m. to monitor flooding and offer assistance to towns dealing with flooding conditions.

The flooding came after a steady rain dropped 2 to 3 inches, combined with melting snow added to the rising Farmington River.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers the following advice for emergency preparedness before a flood:

• If doing construction on your home, avoid building in floodprone areas "unless you elevate and reinforce your home."
• If your home is susceptible to flooding, "elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel."
• To prevent floodwater from clogging your drains, "install 'check valves' in sewer traps."
• Call local officials to see if they plan to construct levees, beams, floodwalls or other barriers to block out floodwater from residential areas in the event of a flood.
• To avoid flooding in your basement, seal all of the walls.

More tips on flood-proofing your home are available online.

Portions of a Town of Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department release were used in this report.