Town of Kent Declares State of Emergency Following Ice Jam Flooding

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The town of Kent has declared a local state of emergency after ice jam flooding along the Housatonic River forced evacuations and road closures.

The town of Kent has declared a local state of emergency after ice jam flooding along the Housatonic River forced evacuations and road closures.

The fire chief confirmed local officials declared a state of emergency Monday. Roads that lead to the Housatonic River and recreational areas will be closed and residents are asked to keep their distance from the ice jam.

In a press conference Monday, State Rep. Brian Ohler (R-Dist. 64) said officials believe the ice jam is one mile long and 12 feet deep.

Flooding issues began on Saturday when an ice jam caused the Housatonic River to flow over its banks. Ohler said some of the ice came down from Vermont and Massachusetts, where they don't have floodgates to hold it back.

First responders had to use boats and payloaders to rescue residents from their homes when flood waters made it impossible for them to leave. Fire officials said six people were evacuated from three homes.

No one was hurt and the displaced residents all found places to go. It is unclear how much damage was done to the homes.

NBC Connecticut
Several people had to be rescued from homes in Kent when the Housatonic River flooded Saturday.
NBC Connecticut
Route 7 was closed Saturday and remains closed between Route 341 and the Bulls Bridge as of Monday.
Rep. Brian M. Ohler
This is a look at conditions on Route 7 on Saturday.
NBC Connecticut
This was the condition of the road on Monday, when dropping temperatures caused some of the water to freeze.
Rep. Brian M. Ohler
The Kent High School hockey rink surrounded by rising flood waters Saturday.
Bethany Keck
Kent resident Bethany Keck sent photos of the massive ice jam along the river. This was the scene Saturday.
Bethany Keck
Large chunks of ice clogged up the river Saturday.
Bethany Keck
The ice jam forced the underlying water to reroute, overflowing the river banks.
Bethany Keck
Ice jams are unusual for Connecticut, but common in northern New England.
Rep. Brian M. Ohler
The river appeared to be at a standstill as flood waters continued to rise.
NBC Connecticut
As of Tuesday the ice jam was still causing flooding.
NBC Connecticut
Officials are warning residents not to walk on the ice, which is unstable and unpredictable.
NBCConnecticut.com
The Kent School, a private boarding school in town, decided to close and send its students home amid the flooding. The school has already suffered minor flood damage.
NBC Connecticut/DroneRanger
Officials estimate that the ice jam is one mile long.

Route 7 was also closed in both directions between Route 341 and the Bulls Bridge Saturday. As of Monday morning, the road remained closed and local officials said it could be days before it reopens. Emergency responders are waiting to see what happens when the ice melts.

Denise Davis, who lives right in the middle of the roadblock, described the scene.

“A lot of ice. Water’s really high, ice is really high. It’s high behind our house. The neighbor’s backyards are flooded with the ice and everything," she said.

Meanwhile, that uncertainty has led Kent School, which has already suffered minor flood damage, to send its 580 students home - 520 of which are boarded at school. Host families will take in the students who don't live nearby.

The Kent Center School also canceled classes for Tuesday amid the unpredictable situation.

The school will be closed through Sunday.

Students at the Kent School were sent home due to flooding on campus after an ice jam sent waters up over the banks of the Housatonic River.

The town remains in "wait and see" mode, hoping the water recedes. 

Officials also said they are concerned about the water treatment facility in the area. It is taking in about three times the daily average intake it an evaluation will not be possible until the ice thaws and water recedes. 

Ice jams and flooding were reported all across the state as the warm weather and melting snow last week caused ice to break up and swollen rivers to overflow.

Josh Cingranelli explains what an ice jam is as flooding persists in Connecticut
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