An update on efforts to address flooding in Hartford's North End, plus a look at how farms are faring

By Katie Pellico,

Catherine Shen

Published January 22, 2024 at 11:07 AM EST

1 of 6 — Flooding Repairs

A crew contracted under MDC replaces pipes under Vine Street in the North End of Hartford.

Tyler Russell / Connecticut Public

2 of 6 — Flooding Repairs

A crew makes repairs on Vine Street in the North End of Hartford. Federal officials say the new EPA funds will help to upgrading wastewater and stormwater systems like these across the region.

Tyler Russell / Connecticut Public

3 of 6 — IMG_2375 -grove.jpg

J. Stan McCauley, president of the Greater Hartford African American Alliance, speaks at a gathering in Hartford to discuss the latest on ongoing flooding and sewage issues in the city’s North End. They’re upset that legislative efforts to help the neighborhood may get stalled during the current legislative session. Civil rights and environmental attorney Cynthia R. Jennings (right), and Activist Bridgitte Prince (center) also spoke.

Maricarmen Cajahauringa / Connecticut Public

4 of 6 — Local Resident Flood Meeting

Sharon Lewis, environmental advocate and affected resident shared her story of losing some of her most prized possessions, family heirlooms and her entire home due to over $100,000 worth of sewage flooding. She has been forced to live out of a hotel for over a month.

Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public

5 of 6 — sewer flooding

Hartford resident and Executive Director of the Connecticut Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice Sharon Lewis during a press conference as Gov. Ned Lamont announced $85 million in state funding to implement a pilot program addressing sewage overflows in streets and basements in North Hartford June 26, 2023.

Abigail Brone / Connecticut Public

6 of 6 — Farm Flooding

The road leading to Rocky Hill farmer Francis Whalen's fields is completely submerged. This is the water level about three quarters of a mile from the Connecticut River's shoreline. Farm land along the Connecticut River flooded following heavy rains in northern New England.

Tyler Russell / Connecticut Public

2023 was the sixth rainiest year on record for Connecticut, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In July alone, more than 1,500 acres of Connecticut farmland flooded over, representing $21 million in lost sales revenue.

This hour, we hear from Chris Bassette of Killam & Bassette Farmstead in South Glastonbury, who says she is still holding out hope for relief for $450,000 dollars in losses she logged from July’s floods. We also get an update from State Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt.

Plus, the Hartford Flood Compensation Program is aimed at providing some short-term relief to residents who have been dealing with systemic flooding and sewage problems. State Comptroller Sean Scanlon is overseeing the program, and discusses the efforts to focus these funds on the North End of the Capital City.

Sharon Lewis is the Executive Director of the CT Coalition for Environmental Justice. Her North End home has been uninhabitable for over a year due to flooding and sewage in her basement and first floor. She joins us, along with Connecticut Mirror investigative reporter Dave Altimari.

GUESTS:

Christine Bassette: Owner-Operator, Killam & Bassette Farmstead
Bryan Hurlburt: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Dave Altimari: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Mirror
Sharon Lewis: Executive Director, CT Coalition for Environmental Justice; North End Resident
Sean Scanlon: Connecticut State Comptroller
Bridgitte Prince: Human and Environmental Rights Activist
James Chow: Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Deputy Director, Environmental Protection Agency

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