Connecticut municipalities clean up day after storm

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Storm cleanup efforts are underway in Milford and West Haven after heavy rain caused flooding in the state on Tuesday. 

On Wednesday, West Haven officials said crews were out since 7 a.m. preparing and leveling out the sand after that floodwater left behind over 4-foot-deep canyons. 

“There were big crevices, it really ruined the beach and this morning I came by, walked and took a look and I didn’t think it was going to be cleaned up soon but I was so surprised by now it looks like they flattened it out,” West Haven resident Rebecca Grillo said.

The city told News 8 that crews brought in sand from a nearby beach in the city to fill the area.

“The last time it happened it definitely took a little while for them to figure out how to do it but I’m definitely happy to see them like the next day making an effort to clean it up,” West Haven resident Nora Grillo said.

Emergency Management officials said that debris was blocking the storm drainage systems and caused the floodwater to erode the sand. 

The impacted beaches were along Ocean Avenue and Lake Street in West Haven. 

“I think they made a good dent today. I think they are going to continue right through Friday, it’s usually when the beach starts to get active and even though we tell people to stay off the beach that sometimes doesn’t work so we want to fix it as fast as we can,” West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer said.

Over in Milford, floodwater also took on the lower level of the Connecticut Post Mall, which is still open.

In a statement the mall spokesperson said: 

“A few storm drains were temporarily overwhelmed by the intensity of the rainfall even though the drains were functioning properly as designed. A limited area of the mall was restricted while cleanup crews responded to engage in cleanup operations.”

Milford’s Naugatuck Gardens neighborhood and Snowflake Pet Center also saw flooding. 

“We had water, my shoes are still drying. That one building there, we had about three inches of water in it, but we had to wet vac it and dehumidifiers going now,” Milford resident Bob Mickolyzck said. “I just sent the mayor some pictures of the flooding out back that we had.”

News 8 reached out to Milford city officials for a comment, but did not hear back.

West Haven Mayor Borer said the city is working on designs for phase one of a project that will fix drainage issues, but it’s still in the works. There are three phases. 

The city said Sea Bluff Beach will be closed on Thursday due to beach restoration work.

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