Isolated Incidents but Overall Calm in Suffield as Hurricane Progresses

Falling trees seriously damaged at least one home and downed power lines and trees are closing side roads and slowing traffic, but Suffield missed the massive power outages and widespread road closures that affected other parts of the state.

Two reports of trees on houses, one at 2190 Mountain Road and one at 20 William Circle, are the most serious incidents reported so far.

The home at 2190 Mountain Road was condemned earlier today, as a tree fell through the back end of the house, destroying the roof, kitchen and more.

Robert Stenhouse, who rented a room at the house, said he and the other residents of the house all have places to stay.

"It's pretty much a mess," he said. "I just came back to feed my cats."

The town's emergency management center in Town Hall was scaling back operations around noon Sunday. The center will still be operational and staff will be recalled if conditions worsen but the heaviest parts of the storm has likely already hit Suffield.

Emergency Management Director John Woods said downed trees and wires are still concerns, as are flood conditions at Stony Brook and Muddy Brook, but calming conditions will be beneficial.

"With the rain stopped, it will be a flash-in-the-pan thing," he said of possible flooding.

Woods has been in the emergency center since 8 a.m. on Saturday.

"When we're rolling, we're sleeping here, we're eating here, we're living here," he said.

FEMA is planning to come to the area to assess damage Monday, according to Woods.

First Selectman Tom Frenaye was at the center as well, along with Woods, Rob Cross, a volunteer who works full time as fire chief of the Air National Guard Fire Department, Don Miner, deputy chief of the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association, and others.

Frenaye said the town was "lucky [to escape widespead, heavy damage], but it was an incredibly good drill for everyone involved. You have to deal with problems that come up."

Officials and staff at the emergency center praised the emergency management systems at their disposal. They were especially happy with WebEOC, a program that links Suffield with the state's emergency operations center and all of the other active town emergency centers in Connecticut.

The program facilitates resource coordination and helps officials prioritze problems by providing fast and accurate information on where the biggest impacts from disasters are felt.

Cooperation in Suffield is needed to have a proper response as well. Cross spoke of the importance of the many different departments in town, including the fire and police, ambulances, public works and more, working in unison.

"We're all talking," he said, noting that a common operating picture, a shared sense of what is happening and how to respond appropriately, is essential.

The shelter at Suffield High School was also winding down Sunday afternoon.