Town builds its readiness for big storms

Its been three years since Hurricane Irene the first of three storms in two years that left Ridgefielders in the dark after day rampaged through town in late August 2011.

Eight weeks later, the Halloween noreaster named storm Alfred dropped wet, heavy snow onto still-leafy trees, bringing down branches and wires and earning the nickname Snowtober.

A year after that, in late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy ravaged the area.

All three taught a simple lesson: be ready.

Is Ridgefield?

I have to believe our community has to be one of the best prepared communities in the greater New York metropolitan area, for our size, First Selectman Rudy Marconi said.

Ridgefield has an emergency shelter, the Recreation Center at 195 Danbury Road, which is open free to all residents when needed. In addition to its recreation facilities including showers amenities have been added that improve its usefulness as a shelter.

Theres now a big 450-kilowatt generator on site, powerful enough to run the entire building.

Previously, the buildings smaller 100 kilowatt back-up generator could only power emergency lighting and keep the pumps running.

Although the generator is there and the buildings multiple electrical systems could be hooked up to it by an electrician, when needed, a system is not yet operational to automatically switch the building to auxiliary power when CL&Ps electric grid stops delivering.

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Town builds its readiness for big storms