Flood Warning in Hartford County Has Expired, Old Farms Road and Tillotson Road Remain Closed

The National Weather Service has issued another flood warning and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has again activated the state of Connecticut Emergency Operations Center in Hartford.

The warning, in effect until 1:45 p.m. Friday,  says that small rivers and streams in Hartford County and northern Connecticut may rise over their banks.  There may also be urban flooding.

There is no flooding over Old Farms Road and Tillotson Road, but the two roads remain closed because of the high river levels. Avon police said that Nod Road is also an area that gets water buildup in rainstorms. Fisher Meadows is no longer under water, but the land is damp and there are some puddles on and alongside the fields.

The heaviest rainfall is expected between midnight and noon on Friday, according to the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Malloy held a conference call with DEMHS staff and key commissioners Thursday night.

Malloy also spoke with Connecticut towns at 4 p.m. Thursday to discuss the anticipated 2-to-4-inch rainstorm and further flood precautions. The DEMHS advised towns and cities Thursday to review local emergency operations plans.

During a town-wide emergency, police, fire and emergency medical personnel will be on call to assist and protect residents, according to Avon's emergency plan booklet, which is available on the town Web site under the "Public Safety" link. The town would issue announcements about the nature of an emergency and safety steps on WTIC-AM (1080 AM) and WTIC- FM (96.5 FM), as well as local television stations.

Avon's emergency shelters are located primarily at Avon High School, as well as at Avon Middle School, Thompson Brook School, Pine Grove Elementary School and Roaring Brook School. If residents are in need of a shelter, town emergency management staff advises shutting off water and electricity and leaving on natural gas unless otherwise notified before leaving home, as well as locking up, evacuating any family pets, bringing a disaster supply kit and using the safest travel routes outlined by local authorities.

A DEMHS alert indicated that the storm could also cause 2 to 3 inches of snow melting.

The Farmington River in Simsbury was below flood stage (12 feet) at 11 feet, as of 6 p.m. on Thursday, and is expected to rise again to 15.7 feet by 2 p.m. on Saturday.