Mayor Keffer Releases Hurricane Irene Update and State of the Town

I'd like to update you on the storm and its effects on Springfield. As you all know, the storm is mostly over. We have about 40 households underwater where residents were forced to evacuate and 75 people needed assistance from the Fire Department to escape the rapidly rising water over night.

All but 20 to 30 residents found shelter with family and friends as we had recommended in pre-hurricane planning. The remaining residents found shelter in the High School until a sewer back up forced everyone to move to the Chisholm Recreation Center. There we were able to provide limited food and water until we could arrange for transportation to the Red Cross evacuation center in Clark.

Flood waters are not expected to subside quickly. The Fire Department will begin operations to assist homeowners in pumping out flooded basements. Presently, over 100 families have asked for assisance. The Fire Department plans to pump until 11 pm tonight, then begin again tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow, we will meet with representatives of the Westfield Regional Board of Health and with the Springfield Building Inspector to discuss what, if any, precautions and inspections should be undertaken of residences before people may return to their homes. Some roads in town remain closed and travelers are encouraged to wait until morning before going out in order to give time for the water to recede further.

In addition, New Jersey American Water asks customers to conserve water in aftermath of hurricane Irene. Flooding from heavy rain severely impacted the company’s water treatment plants. They ask that customers limit all water uses and refrain from any nonessential uses of water. Please be aware that recovery to normal operations could take several days and customer conservation will be necessary until further notice. For updated information on this issue, customers can visit Jersey American Water’s website atwww.newjerseyamwater.com.

Finally, Springfield residents interested in assitance from FEMA can contact the agency through the their website at
http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/index.shtm

This has been a trying time for our career and volunteer services members. They boated, and sometimes waded, into polluted waters to effect rescues without concern for their own health or safety. I whole-heartedly thank each and every member of our OEM, Fire Department, EMS, Red Cross, Police Department and all the volunteers that have tiredlessly served during this storm.

Hugh Keffer

Mayor