By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
jean.sos@snet.net / Twitter: @nhrvalley
Mother Nature threw yet another nasty curveball to the lower Naugatuck Valley towns in the form of freezing rain Monday, just as the towns are still struggling to dig out from three feet of snow.
In Seymour, First Selectman Kurt Miller said the change in weather Monday made an already-challenging clean-up effort even tougher.
“Public Works crews, as well as several
contractors, are out doing the best that they can to plow,” Miller said
via his Facebook page. “The change in weather has made the already
difficult spots to plow even harder. We are trying to go as fast as
possible, but conditions are very challenging.”“We are bringing in as much additional equipment as we can. No roads have been forgotten. Again, I understand some folks are becoming very frustrated but this is a very difficult situation we are trying to work through,” Miller added.
Miller said to make matters worse the town is experiencing some equipment break downs, which crews are working to repair. Haynes Construction employees have stepped up, using their big rigs to help bail Seymour out.
Miller said neighboring Beacon Falls’ First Selectman Jerry Smith also lent Seymour a pay loader and a dump truck Sunday night to aid in the continued clean-up effort. He also said private contractors brought in are doing a “great job” working alongside the town crews.
Miller said crews are working their hardest to ensure all roads get plowed, even though many residents said via Facebook, they are going “ a little stir crazy” being stuck in their homes.
Miller took some heat for projecting a 6 p.m. Sunday night deadline to get most of the roads cleared, but when the deadline came and went, and many roads still remained impassable, some residents took to Facebook and left disparaging words for Miller.
“At this point, I will not make any projections as to what will or won’t be accomplished by the end of the day as it is too hard to do with all of the outside factors,” Miller said Monday.
Miller reminded residents all town buildings remain closed, and schools will also be closed again Tuesday.
In the area of Chamberlain Road, it
was reported that one elderly resident experiencing a medical issue,
had to be rescued from her house, via Seymour firefighters and ambulance
personnel on foot, because the emergency vehicles were unable to get up
the hill.
Ansonia
In nearby Ansonia, city officials said schools and city buildings will remain closed Tuesday and Wednesday. A CodeRed alert issued Monday said while road crews are working around the clock many roads are still impassible at this point.
“Our goal is to open each road by the end of the day,” according to the message. “An open road may mean only one lane of travel. Once all roads are open, we will begin the process of widening the roadways. This is going to take many days to complete the widening of the roads.”
City officials are also encouraging residents to limit their driving to allow road crews to get the roads cleared quickly. Too many cars can also impede emergency response personnel from doing their jobs, officials said.
Also, residents are being reminded the parking ban on all city streets is being extended until further notice, and no vehicles may be parked on a city street. Residents are also being asked not to throw snow into the streets, or face stiff fines if caught doing that.
Lastly, city officials encouraged residents for their continued patience and understanding while the massive clean-up efforts continue.
“This storm has dumped over 30 inches of snow on the City of Ansonia, which is well over the amount of snow that fell in the Great Blizzard of 1978,” officials said. “The City is employing outside contractors to assist with the plowing, and has requested assistance from the State of Connecticut.”
Derby
Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri said Monday afternoon "our roads are 99 percent passable. We started our snow removal on Elizabeth Street, getting rid of excess snow in key areas as well as the parking lots for the schools,"
Ansonia
In nearby Ansonia, city officials said schools and city buildings will remain closed Tuesday and Wednesday. A CodeRed alert issued Monday said while road crews are working around the clock many roads are still impassible at this point.
“Our goal is to open each road by the end of the day,” according to the message. “An open road may mean only one lane of travel. Once all roads are open, we will begin the process of widening the roadways. This is going to take many days to complete the widening of the roads.”
City officials are also encouraging residents to limit their driving to allow road crews to get the roads cleared quickly. Too many cars can also impede emergency response personnel from doing their jobs, officials said.
Also, residents are being reminded the parking ban on all city streets is being extended until further notice, and no vehicles may be parked on a city street. Residents are also being asked not to throw snow into the streets, or face stiff fines if caught doing that.
Lastly, city officials encouraged residents for their continued patience and understanding while the massive clean-up efforts continue.
“This storm has dumped over 30 inches of snow on the City of Ansonia, which is well over the amount of snow that fell in the Great Blizzard of 1978,” officials said. “The City is employing outside contractors to assist with the plowing, and has requested assistance from the State of Connecticut.”
Derby
Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri said Monday afternoon "our roads are 99 percent passable. We started our snow removal on Elizabeth Street, getting rid of excess snow in key areas as well as the parking lots for the schools,"
"It’s a ton of work,” Staffieri said.
Staffieri urged residents to stop throwing snow on the roads when they clean off their cars.
“They need to put it on the sidewalk or on the grass, not on the streets,” he said. “Some streets that have been plowed look like they weren’t plowed because they have been covered with snow,” Staffieri said, by residents cleaning off vehicles.
On the other hand, he said, many people are helping their neighbors dig out and “doing the right things.”
Staffieri urged people to check in on elderly neighbors. “Meals on Wheels is not operating,” he said, and elderly clients are not getting their food delivered.
Staffieri said people should call the police or fire departments for assistance if they know of any residents who need food.
He said the roof that collapsed on a house at the corner of Third and Minerva streets was “a temporary roof that blew off of the building. Luckily no cars or people were hit by it,” Staffieri said.
Register reporter Patricia Villers contributed to this story.
Staffieri urged residents to stop throwing snow on the roads when they clean off their cars.
“They need to put it on the sidewalk or on the grass, not on the streets,” he said. “Some streets that have been plowed look like they weren’t plowed because they have been covered with snow,” Staffieri said, by residents cleaning off vehicles.
On the other hand, he said, many people are helping their neighbors dig out and “doing the right things.”
Staffieri urged people to check in on elderly neighbors. “Meals on Wheels is not operating,” he said, and elderly clients are not getting their food delivered.
Staffieri said people should call the police or fire departments for assistance if they know of any residents who need food.
He said the roof that collapsed on a house at the corner of Third and Minerva streets was “a temporary roof that blew off of the building. Luckily no cars or people were hit by it,” Staffieri said.
Register reporter Patricia Villers contributed to this story.
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