Hurricane Irene in Black Rock Connecticut

All I can say is that If this was a Category 1 dwindling down to a tropical storm, I sure don't want to stick around for a real Category 1 or higher!  Some areas got hit a lot worse than others in Black Rock.  Let's take a look:

Black Rock Yacht Club 

Took a direct hit from the storm and lifted the ballroom floor up.  One member who was in the club at the time, said that he could see the floor undulating with the waves.  The waves came into the pool and filled it with salt water.  Our sources say the beautiful new bar remained untouched.  For now the BRYC is closed.  No word on when it will reopen.  For more information www.blackrockyc.com

St. Mary's-by-the-Sea

The area near the sand spit got hit the hardest by wave action.  As you can see from the photo above the water washed over the seawall at high tide (11 AM).  This was the storm surge action that we warned about in previous e-mails.

Below you'll see a storm surge map, which the City sent out.  It was pretty accurate, except that the water did actually cross over Seabright Avenue and came up past Seaview Terrace.  Anchorage Drive flooded as expected as did Grovers Avenue and Gilman Street. 

There was wind damage along Eames Boulevard.  Two smaller trees came down along St. Mary's along with two larger trees, one of which blocked the road. 

Gilman Street Flooding

The water washed over the seawall and the sand spit and came down Gilman Street according to several observers.  It did not breach the berm along Gilman.  The berm held.

Sand Spit Damage

The sand spit sand on the Sound side was washed away in the storm.  The remaining vegetation held down the sand on the half of the sand spit where the City had not removed it.  The entire sand spit was washed over by wave action according to some observers.  The importance of the sand spit in preventing flooding in storm surge areas along Beachview Avenue, Livingston Street, Newton Street, Montgomery Street, and beyond should be clear from this photo.

Richard Orson, the environmental scientist who provided recommendations for St. Mary's sand spit restoration after the dredging incident, cautioned that a strong storm could create a channel separating the sand spit from the land.  This did occur.  If a permanent channel is created by later storms, the sand spit could disappear entirely, exposing Ash Creek to direct wave action from future storm surges.

Anchorage Drive Flooding 

Seabright Avenue

The storm surge washed across Seabright Avenue and up the street towards Ellsworth Park, stopping just past Seaview Terrace.  The beach grass held the sand in place along much of the beach, but some was washed up onto the road.

Wind Damage from Downed Trees

The most damage came from the wind which knocked down trees and power lines.  Some areas of Black Rock were without power for several days. It was reported that 580,000 homes lost power throughout Connecticut, but that all but 80,000 had been restored by today. 

Black Rock Community Supports One Another 

Many neighbors gathered on street corners to talk about the damage and helped one another to clean up, provide hot showers, hot coffee, or to recharge their cell phones as some had power and others did not.  It is times like this that we remember why we chose to live in this community. 

Views from Fayerweather Yacht Club

Other than a beached sailboat across from the Fayerweather Yacht Club all seemed calm the afternoon of the storm when these photos were taken.  The storm direction spared Captain's Cove, homes along Hackley, and the Fayerweather Yacht Club. 

What To Do If You Have Damage

Contact your insurance company immediately, of course.  The following e-mail was forwarded by Joe Ianniello of the Black Rock NRZ:

From: Appleby, Scott
Sent: Mon Aug 29 17:06:01 2011
Subject: City of Bridgeport Pre-Assessment Damage Survey

In an effort to gather the proper estimates for damages we are asking that our Residents, Businesses and Private Non-Profit provide the Bridgeport EOC with their preliminary Damage Assessment Costs (Non-Insurance Costs).  We need them immediately.

The President has made Pre-Landfall Declaration for the State and thus will make the process we hope a bit faster as it relates to recovery efforts. We are requested to provide the following information to FEMA:

Individual Assistance (Home and Business Owners Only)

• Damage Costs
• Address for Businesses and Residents impacted
• Contact Information
• Insured (Yes or No)
• Homeowner or Renter

Private Non-Profit Eligibility

• Educational
• Utility
• Emergency (Fire, EMS, etc.)
• Medical (hospitals, clinics, out-patient services, hospice, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers that provide medical care)
• Custodial care (facilities for the aged and disabled)
• Irrigation Facilities
• Other Services (Zoos, museums, performing arts, community centers, community arts centers, libraries, homeless shelters, senior citizen centers, rehabilitation facilities, shelter workshops, health and safety services)

We need to have them call 203-576-1311 or 203-579-3829 to report damages or email eoc@bridgeportct.gov

Thanks

Scott Appleby, CEM

Director-CHS III

Office of Emergency Management &

Homeland Security/LEPC

City of Bridgeport

581 North Washington Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06604

203.579.3822 (office)

203.257.5981 (cellular)

scott.appleby@bridgeportct.gov  (email)

http://www.bridgeportct.gov/EmergencyMgmt/Pages/EmergencyMgmt.aspx