Springfield escapes major damage

Springfield escaped most of the heavy damage from flooding from Hurricane Irene.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110830/THISJUSTIN/708309940

Springfield escapes major damage

Published: August 30, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — Protected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Springfield Flood Control Dam on the Black River, the town of Springfield escaped major damage in Sunday’s historic flooding from Hurricane Irene, which devastated many communities.

Town Manager Robert Forguites said that people living along Mill Brook in North Springfield had to be evacuated Sunday, including people at the Brookwood Community Care Home.

He said about a half-dozen residents of the residential home were taken to Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center, and were being returned Monday afternoon. He said family members took the other residents home.

“Some streets in North Springfield were closed yesterday,” said Forguites, who said he visited the Red Cross shelter set up in Springfield High School Sunday. About 30 people took shelter there, he said.

At the height of the flooding, eight roads were closed, but all but Pleasant Valley Road had been fixed and reopened by Monday afternoon.

He said that highway crews had to remove a pickup truck, which was buried in debris up to its hood in the middle of the road. He said a couple had tried to cross a washed out section. They escaped unharmed, but their pickup did not.

“Pleasant Valley Road is a problem,” he said. That road connects to Lower Bartonsville Village, which is largely cut off because the Bartonsville Covered Bridge was swept away Sunday afternoon.

“Compared with other towns, Springfield was treated kindly,” said Forguites.

He said that about 250 homes were still without power.