Suit filed against town for flooding

WATERFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Folks living along Hunt's Brook in Waterford experience major flooding because a nearby culvert just can't handle some storms.

The flooding of March 2010 was arguably the worst most folks, who found their homes underwater, have ever experienced.

"All this was under water, if you look at the windows at the front of the house, the water was right up to the very bottom of the windows, all the way across the front of the house," Carl Miles from Waterford said.

Carl Miles lives right next to Hunt's Brook and the Bloomingdale Road culvert which couldn't handle the flow of water that day.

"Yeah we think about it every time it rains a lot," Miles said, laughing.

Miles may be most affected by any flooding but it's one of his neighbors who is filing suit against the town and DEEP, demanding something be done.

News 8 asked if Miles thought it will help get them answers, he said, "I would think. I think the numbers are...I don't think they're defensible."

News 8 wanted to find out what can be done to prevent further flooding so News 8 talked to the first selectman. He told News 8 this culvert is rated for a hundred year storm so barring any extraordinary circumstances, like the flood of March of 2010, this culvert should be able to handle most storms.

There are no plans to rebuild this but he does tell News 8 that workers come by and try to clear away any of the debris which could clog it up.

Miles had hoped this culvert would have been replaced when the bridge was rebuilt. He says another one further up on Miller's pond was.

"It doesn't take rocket science to know that a giant hole and a little hole, the giant hole is going to flow a lot more water than those three little holes there," Miles said.

On most days the water flows freely, but these folks are worried about those other days.