Greetings Greenwich friends and neighbors.
More than 5 inches of rain from tropical storm Elsa soaked the Town today. We were fortunate that the heavy winds that were forecast did not materialize.
Our first-responders have been doing yeoman’s work in answering calls for downed trees and flooding. As of 4 p.m., the Greenwich Fire Department has responded to 52 calls from residents whose homes were flooded with up to four feet of water, damaging furnaces, electrical systems and hot water heaters. The most impacted areas are Old Greenwich and Riverside, with a few homes in Cos Cob and central Greenwich.
A majority of the 62 homes without electrical service should be restored by 6 p.m. today.
The storm also has impacted our beach operations.
Ferry service & Beach closure updates
The Great Captains Island ferry is currently at the dry dock in Bridgeport. We are in the queue for work to be completed. We must wait for the current vessel occupying the dry dock to be completed and launched so our boat can be worked on. As soon as the dry dock clears, our work will be underway.
Byram Park Beach and Greenwich Point Park Beach are closed to swimming today, Friday, July 9.
Island Beach is open for swimming and the ferry service will be running to Island Beach every 30 minutes this weekend (weather permitting). Great Captains Island is open for swimming, but is only accessible by personal boat. There are no lifeguards on duty there. The parks will be open tomorrow, but the Department of Health will make a determination about swimming. The Beach Hotline can be reached at 203-622-7855. The splash pad, wading pool, and pool at Byram Park are open for swimming.
Town director earns national award
Congratulations to our Director of Risk Management Megan Zanesky has been awarded the 2021 Public Risk Manager of the Year Award by the national Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA).
This is the most prestigious award a PRIMA member can receive. The Public Risk Manager of the Year award is the grand master of risk management – the one with the ability to handle losses, foresee risks and prevent dangerous endgames.
For four decades, the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) has been the one-stop resource for education and training, risk resources and networking opportunities for public sector risk managers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, PRIMA is the largest risk management association dedicated solely to the practice of risk management in the public sector. PRIMA’s membership is comprised of more than 1,400 entities.
Megan, who has been the Town’s risk manager for more than four years, also is featured as the cover story in the June/July 2021 publication of the Public Risk magazine, published by PRIMA. In addition to her duties here at Town Hall, Megan is president of the Connecticut PRIMA and president-elect of PRIMA New England.
Road Closure Alert
Starting Monday, July 12, there will be a temporary daytime road closure on South Stanwich Road to finish fence installation associated with the causeway repair project completed earlier this year. Since construction will only take place during daytime hours, the road will reopen to the public each evening. Weather permitting, the project is projected to be completed in four days. Follow @GreenwichPublicWorks on social media for the most recent updates on the project.
Scam alert
Greenwich Police are warning residents about a telephone scam involving callers purporting to be representatives of Eversource. The callers claim there are issues with online payments and that electrical service will be disconnected unless an alternative payment is made.
Eversource said that its online payment system is working and that service isn’t terminated without several notices and offers of payment plans.
COVID-19 update
Health Department Director Caroline Baisley reports there are 15 active cases in Town today, for a total of 5,152 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020. That is 5 cases more than a week ago. Greenwich Hospital is treating 2 COVID patients. The number of residents who have died from COVID remains at 89.
Here is a breakdown of the number of residents who have been fully vaccinated, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
As of July 7:
- Age 12 – 15: 2,696 of 3,783 residents or 60.27%.
- Age 16 – 44: 14,339 of 19,283 residents or 66.02%
- Age 45 – 64: 15,687 of 18,950 residents or 76.26%
- Age 65 +: 9,862 of 10,466 residents or 88.61%
The information is of June 30, 61.14 percent or 38,419 residents have been fully vaccinated.
Vaccine and testing information:
For homebound residents, the Family Health Division of the Health Department can provide assistance. Residents should contact their physician to request that a doctor’s order for a vaccine shot is forwarded to the Health Department. Doctors can contact the Family Health Division by calling 203-622-6495.
Here is a list of available vaccine providers:
- Yale New Haven Health:
Sign up online here, or call 1-833-275-9644. - Stamford Health:
Sign-up online here, or call 203-276-7300. - CVS Health (Limited Locations):
Sign up online here, or call 1-800-679-9691.
Testing information:
- Greenwich Hospital and the Yale New Haven Health system can be found here.
- Community Health Center can be found here.
- Family Centers at Wilbur Peck Court can be found here.
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Stay safe and all the best.
Fred