Homes may be lost in East Haven

East Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - The storm surge from Tropical Storm Irene will claim a few homes in parts of East Haven, the mayor told News 8.

The damage was "tremendous", Mayor April Capone said.

The water was waist deep in sections of Cosey Beach.

Despite warnings, some people along the Connecticut shore refused to evacuate, and some of them had to be rescued.

Crews are going in to check for structural damage, but the waters so strong, at least four houses came right off their foundations.

Roads are flooded and impassable, meaning people can't return to their homes and those who didn't evacuate are stuck.

"I've seen some of the damage," Mayor Capone said. "It's bad."

A man who didn't evacuate had to be rescued from his house. Crews took a risk to remove him through storm surge waters, near downed powerlines. His neighbors reported seeing water crashing over the seawall flooding houses and even breaking some windows.

John Miessau said, "To be honest, I'm not that upset right now. To be honest, it could have been a lot worse and as long as nobody got hurt."

Gov. Dannel Malloy toured the area with the mayor to survey the damage.