Gordon Joseloff First Selectman

his weekend’s storm, unlike the ones in January, did not sneak up on us and Westport was well prepared.

We put all our public works crews on alert as well as private contractors, checked our equipment, readied the sand and salt supplies, and were ready to go when the first flakes started sticking late Saturday night.

Fortunately, it was a fluffy snow, not the heavy kind that takes down trees and power lines. As a result, we did not have one report of a power outage or tree down in Westport during the storm.

Our big concern is that the northeaster coincided with the full moon high tide. The combination had the potential of causing flooding – and it did. The flooding was relatively minor, however.

I accompanied Assistant Fire Chief Larry Conklin and Firefighter Tim Chalfant as they made their rounds Sunday morning, first to Saugatuck Shores and then the Compo Beach area and Green’s Farms.

Shortly after 9 a.m., water had begun to creep over Canal Road. By 10:45 a.m., high tide, there was a good 3 feet of water (or more) over the roadway. By then, Conklin had ordered an engine company and staff car to Saugatuck Island as a standby – a precaution taken any time flooding is expected.

We also saw some minor flooding on Compo Road South near the Minuteman statute as well as on the entry road to Burying Hill Beach. There was also some flooding in the Old Mill area. 

After touring in the fire command car, I joined Eric Lee on one of the town’s snowplows for a couple of hours. We did Roseville Road, Cross Highway, and North Avenue, and side streets along the way.

Until you’ve spent some time with one of these guys on the road, you really don’t have an appreciation of the dedication, skills, and stamina they must have to do the top-notch job that they do.

Watching Eric raise and lower the massive, 11-foot plow as he maneuvered along the roadways – making turns, backing up, going forward – was like watching a concert pianist effortlessly playing a complicated sonata.

Occasionally we’d stop to chat with a resident shoveling their driveway or out playing with the kids. They were most appreciative and complimentary.

“That’s the best part,” Eric said.

One thing Eric mentioned that bears repeating – if you are out walking in a snowstorm or through newly fallen snow, be sure you are wearing something that stands out – a reflective orange visit would be ideal (especially if you are jogging.) But if orange is not your color, pick something other than white. It could save your life.

Later in the day, I stopped by EMS and police headquarters to check to see how things were going there. The word was all was quiet – a real relief given what could have been.

Congratulations to our public works personnel, as well as our fire, police and EMS units for a job well done.