Torrential rains wash out Route 11, a number of Andover roads

By Shawn Cunningham
©The Chester Telegraph – 2014

A clickable photo gallery is below the article. Thanks to our photo contributors: Mark Burbela, Stacie Goodman Hill, Melissa Ryan and Marc Thomas.

The skies opened up over Chester on Monday, and stayed that way, warranting the largest flood response since Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011. Chester Fire, Police and Ambulance were assisted by units from Londonderry, Springfield, Windham and the water rescue unit from Hartford. By 4:30 pm, the Middle Branch of the Williams River had reached the bottom of the bridge at Routes 11 and 103 and water was pouring across the parking lot at the Sunoco station.

Down stream from the gas station, the river had jumped its banks and poured across the softball field and American Legion parking lot, dumping into the field that has been proposed as a fairground for Chester. At Church Street, Chester firefighters were routing traffic away from Route 11 where a host of problems were being worked including a water rescue of a woman whose house was surrounded by the river.

“This is an awful thing,” said Chester Fire Chief Matt Wilson, “but it proves why we need training for things that don’t seem to happen often, but they happen. Until three weeks ago, there was not a single (water rescue) rope or life jacket in the department. Today every firefighter had a life jacket.” The water rescue team from Hartford assisted with extracting the woman.

Wilson also said that every side road along Route 11 West sustained some damage, particularly severe on Potash Brook, Fenton and Kingsbury roads. One house on Kingsbury sustained damage resulting in a large portion of it collapsing into the river. Wilson also cut power to the area around the junction of Route 11 and Andover Road where there were leaking propane tanks. According to Wilson, the Springfield Fire Department was able to reach them and shut them off. Route 11 was blocked off from about 4 to 8 p.m.

Roads to Andover were difficult to  impassable tonight and it was reported that there was substantial damage there.

By 8:30, the firefighters were regrouping at the town garage and Wilson was looking at the clouds. “There’s supposed to be another (weather) cell through tonight,” said the chief, “so I’m holding these resources here for a while, but I’m particularly concerned about the town road crews out there tonight, so some of us will be here all night.” Wilson asked that residents be smart about traveling and if possible stay home tonight.

Referring to the weather extremes of the past few years Wilson noted, “We’re in a different place now.”

Water rescue equipment and training have been high on the fire department’s priority list since Irene. In April, Wilson requested funds to buy equipment that would allow most firefighters to be trained in water rescue from the Chester Select Board, but the board asked the department to raise a large portion of the money privately. “We have a lot of the equipment we need to begin water rescue training in September, but we are still fundraising for it,” said Wilson. Contributions can be sent to the Yosemite Engine Company, P.O. Box 631, Chester.

UPDATE: Here’s the complete list of those who responded yesterday according to the Chester Fire Department: Hartford rescue, Springfield Fire, Proctorsville Fire, Rockingham Fire, Weston Fire, Londonderry, American Red Cross, CERT team, Chester Ambulance, and Springfield Dispatch.

The Telegraph will have more about the storm and its after-effects on Tuesday. In the meantime, here are photos from a number of our readers plus our own Shawn Cunningham that document the rains and floods of today, Monday, July 28.

Flooding in the cemetery in the Stone Village. Melissa Ryan photo.

Another view. Melissa Ryan photo.

Fields behind the Stone House Antiques Center. Melissa Ryan Photo.

Flooded fields. Photo by Melissa Ryan.

Missing Link Bridge, which just recently was rebuilt after Irene. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Sunoco on Main Street in Chester with flooding from the Williams River right behind it. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Flooding at the Sunoco. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Another view of the flooding at the Sunoco. Mark Burbela photo.

The Gingerbread Apartments on the edge of the river. Photo by Shawn Cunningham.

The roadway to the sewage treatment plant next to the American Legion in Chester. Photo by Shawn Cunningham

Same view. Photo by Mark Burbela.

The parking lot of the American Legion. Mark Burbela photo.

This Chester bridge gets the second test of its short life. The first was right after it opening, during Irene. Shawn Cunningham photo.

The other side of the bridge. Mark Burbela photo.

A later view, with the Dumpster sinking. Marc Thomas photo.

Flooding at the Catholic Church in Chester. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Route 11 West was closed in Chester around 4:30 p.m. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Emergency personnel explain to drivers why the road is closed. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Water rushed down Horsenail Hill Road toward Route 11. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Workers placed safety cones out on Horsenail Hill Road. Shawn Cunningham photo.

A closer view. Shawn Cunningham photo.

The bottom of Horsenail Hill Road at Route 11. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Howard Hill Road in Andover was impassable. This is taken from Route 11 looking up Hilltop Road. Shawn Cunningham photo.

This photo was taken from the other direction, down Hilltop Road toward Route 11. Stacie Goodman Hill photo.

Emergency personnel had to evacuate a woman from this home on Route 11. The Williams River jumped its bank in the rear and created a front yard channel. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Here’s another view of the channel. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Near the Chester Rod and Gun Club heading west. Shawn Cunningham photo.

East of Hilltop Road, heading east on Route 11, the road gives way. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Looking west at the same location. Shawn Cunningham photo.

Between Steigers Road and the Chester welcome sign. Shawn Cunningham photo.n